Discover ITALIAN
Wine Country
If you're visiting Italy, you are bound to stumble upon a local winery no matter where you go. The country is home to some of the oldest wine producing regions in the world with nearly every part of the country producing its own styles of wine.
Followed closely by Spain and France, Italy is the world’s largest wine producer by volume. The three country’s regularly via for the top position…and as one of the top wine destinations for wine lovers to visit. Which is where Carpe Travel steps in.
We’ve pulled together the following Italian Wine Travel Guide to share a brief history of many of the must visit Italian wine regions, along with where to sip, where to stay and things to do beyond the vines.
This guide is designed to help you plan the perfect Italian wine vacation. And like wine, our guides get better with age as we will continue to build them out and add more tips and wine adventures. Make sure to subscribe to keep updated. Saluti!
The are 20 main wine regions in Italy. Yes, that’s a lot and seeing as there are more than 350 official Italian wine varieties, there is a lot to know…and sip.
ITALY'S GRAPE VARIETIES
Italy is home to more than 350 grape varieties. The following grapes are the most commonly grown grapes in the country.
White Wine Grapes
- Pinot Grigio
- Glera
- Trebbiano
- Verdicchio
- Moscato Bianco
- Cortese
RED Wine Grapes
Planning Your ITALIAN Country Vacation
REGIONAL WINE TASTING ITINERARIES & GUIDES
WHERE TO STAY IN ITALY BY REGION
PIEDMONT
- Castello di Sinio in Barolo
- Palazzo Finati di Paola Fava, in Alba
TUSCANY
- Castello di Vicarello
SICILY
- Grande Hotel et Des Palmes
- NH Palermo
- La Foresteria Planeta
- Il Vigneto Resort
VALPOLICELLA
GETTING AROUND
Planning a wine tasting trip isn’t as easy as it may sound, especially if you’re planning one in a wine region you are unfamiliar with. I have learned this the hard way… I’ve met a few experts who have literally guided me through the Italian wine regions. And they’ve shared a few tips, tools and etiquette to help you plan your next wine tour in Italy. It's highly recommended that you hire a driver who can not only schedule your wine tastings in advance, but get you there and act as a translator. Click over to read the rest of their tips.
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BEYOND THE VINES
Meet the Winemakers
Carpe Travel’s wine experts sit with top winemakers from regions around the world. Check out these local interviews and learn more about the people who make your favorite wines!
MORE RESOURCES
Elaine Schoch is an award-winning travel writer, wine judge, American Wine Specialist and certified by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET II). At Carpe Travel she shares wine travel destination guides for ALL WINE LOVERS – from novices to experienced pros – to help them plan their wine adventures, arming them with insider tips, must-visit spots, and things to see and do beyond the vines.