Wines in the regions of Italy

Italy is rich in many varietes of wines, differentiated by the region: Northeast regions; Northcentral and Northwest regions; Central regions; The South and Islands.

The North-East Italy

The regions included in the North-East part of Italy are: Venezie, Trentino Alto Adige and Friuli Venezia Giulia and the wines produced here are more whites : Soave, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Tocai and rose and less reds. The determinant quality factor in all three regions is the climate influenced by the Alps.
In Trentino-Alto Adige red wines prevail, dominated by the ubiquitous Shiava or Vernatsch, though the more distinguished Teroldego, Lagrein and Marzemino hold their own against Cabernet, Merlot and Pinot Nero. The emrging favourites, however, are the white Chardonnay, Pinots and Sauvignon.
Here is held the most important festival of Wine – Vinitaly – every year in spring in Verona.

North-Central and North-West

Here, due to a vary landscape, the wine differs and include Barolo or Lambrusco.

Emilia-Romagna contributes heavily with the fourth largest output among regions after Apulia, Sicily and the Veneto. Piedmont stands tall in the quality field with the most DOC or DOCG zones of any regions, as well as the most classified vineyards, even though it ranks only seventh in overall production. Piedmont wine types includes Barbera, Dolcetto, Grignolino, Freisa, Cortese, Arneis, Brachetto, the Canelli clone of Moscato (for Asti Spumante) and Nebbiolo.

Valle d'Aosta, the smallest region, produces by far the lowest volume of wine from its rocky slopes. Liguria, with little space for vines between the mountains and the Mediterranean, is second from the last in production, offering wines that are rarely more than esoteric.
The vines of Valle d'Aosta often have French names - Petit Rouge, Gros Vien, Blanc de Valdigne, for instance - due to the Savoyard history of the region. Liguria favours the local Rossese, Pigato and Vermentino, while working with its own version of Dolcetto, known as Ormeasco.

Lombardy, with a high density of population do not produce a high quantity of wines, but is renown for the Pinot vines in the southern Oltrepo.

Emilia-Romagna is a generous region of wines like Barbera, Cabernet, Chardonnay and Sauvignon.


Central Italy

Central Italy includes the most wine productive regions Tuscany, Latium and landlocked Umbria and in east: the Marches, Abruzzi and Molise. Viticulture on the Tyrrhenian side is dominated by the dark-skinned Sangiovese and the lightskinned Trebbiano and Malvasia. In Tuscany, the most powerful wine is Chianti. White Malvasia reigns in Rome's region of Latium.

South Italy and Islands

Wines like Aglianico, Greco, Malvasia, Gaglioppo and Moscato are tyipically produced in this part of Italy.

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Osteria Tornabuoni is not just a restaurant but also a delicatessen and food counter, a wine-shop and a fine cellar. Here you will be able to find the specialities of Tuscan tradition combined with selected French Champagne and home brews, to savour and enjoy in the Osteria’s warm atmosphere.