Italian Wine and Grape Guide

Why another Italian wine and grape guide? This is not a traditional guide but rather a reference tool designed to give you quick, reliable answers when trying to understand Italian wine.

Italian wine is famously complex, even for experts. Labels often do not mention the grape variety; instead, wines are named after a village, region, or appellation. Appellations may allow several grapes and different winemaking methods, which means that wines with the same name can vary significantly in style and taste. This can be confusing, especially for those new to Italian wine, making it difficult to know which bottle to choose or how to find something similar.

Our Italian Wine and Grapes Guide aims to provide clear, practical explanations to the most common questions we’ve been asked over nearly 20 years in the wine industry. Together with our Wine FAQs, it is a resource built to bring clarity to one of the world’s most fascinating but complex wine landscapes.

Italy grows more than 1,400 grape varieties - France, Spain and Italy are the largest wine producers in the world, with the top spot often changing between vintages - divided between international grapes and native (autochthonous) grapes. International grapes are grown all over the world thanks to their adaptability. While they have distinct characteristics, the “terroir” (climate, soil, and local conditions) influences the final wine. Classic international examples in Italy include Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot. Native grapes are varieties unique to Italy, cultivated within specific regions, sometimes even just in small local areas. Examples include Sangiovese, the backbone of Chianti, and Lacrima di Morro d’Alba. Explore our map of Italian native grapes to discover more.

Often, a grape may be native to a specific Italian region but considered “international” elsewhere. Increasingly, Italian native grapes are also being planted abroad, thanks to their diversity and unique qualities.

Italian Wine Classification System

Italian wines are classified under a four-tier national system. These categories do not always reflect quality but are intended to regulate production areas, grapes, and methods:
Table Wine (Vino da Tavola) – Any grapes from anywhere in Italy, maximum winemaking freedom.
IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) – Wines from a defined area, usually a whole region.
DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) – Wines from smaller, strictly regulated areas using specific grapes.
DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) – The highest classification, covering very small areas, specific grapes, and detailed winemaking laws.

Interestingly, a higher classification does not always mean better wine. Some winemakers deliberately choose to bottle a wine as vino da tavola or IGT rather than DOC or DOCG, allowing them the freedom to produce the best wine possible with their grapes.

For more, watch this video on the Italian wine system .

Below are some common Italian wine words you may find on labels:

Bianco – white
Cantina – winery
Cantina Sociale – co-operative winery
Classico – the historic, most suitable area within an appellation
Cru – a specially designated vineyard or area within an appellation
Frizzante – lightly sparkling
Invecchiato – aged in wood
Liquoroso – fortified wine
Metodo Classico / Metodo Tradizionale – classic method, bottle-fermented sparkling wine
Metodo Charmat / Martinotti – sparkling wine with second fermentation in a tank
Passito – wine made from dried grapes, usually sweet with higher sugar
Riserva – aged wine, only when permitted by law
Rosato – rosé
Rosso – red
Secco – dry
Spumante – sparkling wine, independently of the method used, it is on the back labels of all sparkling wines
Superiore – higher-quality designation within an appellation
Tenuta – wine estate
Uva / Uve – grape / grapes
Uvaggio – grape varieties used in a blend
Vendemmia – vintage
Vendemmia tardiva – late harvest

Our guide highlights the main Italian wines and grapes, aiming to bring some clarity to this fascinating yet often confusing world of Italian wine. For more insights, explore our YouTube channel or discover expert articles on our Italian wine blog.