Italy Wine Tours

Italy is one of the world’s greatest wine-producing countries. From its boot heel in the south to appellations in the shadow of the Italian Alps in the north, Italian wines are diverse, complex, simple and everything in between in terms of offering pleasure and enjoyment.

There few areas across this country that are not planted to vineyards. Dating to the Etruscan and Roman eras, vine growing and wine-making have long been passions in Italy.

With this long history, Italy has embodied the civilizing influence of wine and wine growing. For without vine cultivation and wine-making, generations of Italians would not have been able to cultivate many parts of the arid peninsula we know today. In these places—some famous today, others still remote and little known—the vine found water and allowed human communities to settle and become, like the vineyards themselves, part of a region. This is the origin of quality and individuality. This all amounts to one of the great gifts Italian wine has given to the world of wine (and to humanity): civilization, regional identity and the importance of terroir.

From Tuscany to the Veneto, there are literally dozens of appellations producing red, white, rose and sparkling wines of all kinds. In total, there are 19 wine growing regions and more than 70 DOCGs (Denominazione di Origine Contollata e Garantita), or controlled designation of origin guaranteed, more than 300 DOCs (Denominazione di Origine Contollata) and 60-plus IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) appellations.

In central Italy, rich, tannic reds produced from Sangiovese in Tuscany, Sagrantino di Montefalco in Umbria, and brisk whites from Gavi near the Italian Riviera to luscious dry Pinot Grigio from the Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige and Collio, powerful and jammy Amarone from Veneto’s Valpolicella and elegant Sangiovese in Tuscany are each world class in quality and renown, yet each region, each varietal, and its accompanying cuisines are unique.

Continuing south and to the Islands, briny, dry Vermentino, warm, rich Nero d’Avola from Sicily, savory, bittersweet Primitivo and Negroamaro from Puglia and classic Aglianico from Basilicata benefit from plentiful sunshine.

Since the end of WWII, Italy’s winemaking has shifted from old traditions in many places and is now at the forefront of innovation and experimentation. From new trends in estate bottling to cultivating international grape varieties, Italian winemakers revel in being on the cutting edge of implementing new practices.