Region: Trentino

Description: In the mountains of Northeastern Italy, only a small percentage of land is farmed. The difficult, terraced vineyards and cool climate are combined to reduce yield and concentrate flavors. About two thirds of production is in red wines, but critical acclaim is reserved for the beautifully perfumed whites.

Producers: Cesari

Region: Piemonte

Description: With it’s literal meaning “foot of the mountain”, this region is nestled in the foothills of the northwest Italian Alps. It’s vineyards cover a wide range of altitudes and exposures. An overwhelming majority of wines derive from native vines such as the Nebbiolo, Barbera and the Dolcetto . Popular reds include Barolo, Barbaresco and Brachetto, while more prolific and equally renowned are the wines of Asti and the complex whites of Gavi di Gavi.

Producers: Benotto Convento dei Cappuccini Viberti Villa Rosa Cesari Olim Bauda Sebaste Accornero

Region: Veneto

Description: With it’s regional capital being Venice, this area is abundant in both DOC and non-classified wines. Combining the efforts of 3 premium regions; western Verona, the central hills of Vicenza, Padova & Treviso, and the eastern plains along the Adriatic coast, the range of wines is complete. Beginning with bubbly Prosecco, to the most popular Pinot Grigio and coming full circle to the Amarones, Bardolino, Valpolicella and Soaves.

Producers: Aldegheri Opici Astoria Due Torri Antonio Ceresa ll Poggio Geretto Montresor Provolo Domenico de Bertiol

Region: Friuli-Venezia-Guilia

Description: This compact region is nestled in Italy’s northeast, bounded by the Adriatic Sea and the mountainous borders of Austria, Croatia and Slovenia. This region is leading the movement in modern winemaking. Air currents between the sea and the mountains create highly favorable growing conditions for it’s hilly, terraced vineyards, thus producing wonderfully ripe fruit. Known for low yields and high quality, the Pinot Grigio, Tocai and Sauvignon Blanc are rich and flavorful.

Producers: Merk La Viarte Due Torri Villa Nova

Region: Emilia Romagna

Description: With Emilia to the west and stretching to the Po river and Romagna to the east near the Adriatic sea, these two regions coincide more or less at the capital of Bologna to form the most eccentric list of wine. Best known for it’s Lambrusco, most popular in it’s dry version, the Sangiovese di Romagna wine finds different nuances from the the same grape used by it’s neighbor, Tuscany.

Producers: ll Poggio Umberto Cesari Opici Corte D’Aibo

Region: Tuscany

Description: Tuscany is the most dynamic and internationally known region in Italy. From the central hills of Florence and extending to the Mediterranean coast, this region is rapidly growing in stature and quality. The primary red wines are Sangiovese based with Chianti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Brunello di Montalcino and Carmignano. Super Tuscans, which are also Sangiovese based, are blended with international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with much success.

Producers: Bigi Carpineto Frattoria Le Fonti Campobello Mantellassi Frattoria Uccelliera Lamole Opici Toscana Saporita Luiano Scopetani Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Region: Umbria

Description: A landlocked region best known for its white wines, Umbria has been producing critically acclaimed reds from a combination of indigenous and foreign grape varieties. The region has 2 DOCG red wines, Montefalco Sagrantino and Torgiano Rosso Riserva as well as a white wine, Orvieto, which has transformed itself from a soft golden wine to a pale, pure, crisp creature of modern enology.

Producers: Bigi Casale Triocco

Region: Lazio

Description: This region of Rome, known for it’s Frascati as well as its fabulous Est!Est!Est!, reserves it’s greatest praise for the red Falernian, grown along the Mediterranean coast in southern Latium and Campania.

Producers: Bigi Colli di Catone Farina

Region: Abruzzo

Description: Facing the Adriatic sea with the mountains and foothills to its back, this region boasts some of the most favorable growing conditions which makes for the highest average yield in all of Italy. Trebbiano, Montepuliciano are favorites among growers while other highly productive vines are used for bulk wine and table grapes. With good land and climate, the wines are produced and consumed both locally and in the international market.

Producers: Collegiata Marramiero

Region: Campagnia

Description: This region, with its glorious Amalfi coast, romantic Isle of Capri, ancient Pompei and the brooding Mt. Vesuvius also produces the most interesting in Italian wines. The Greco, Aglianico and Falanghina grape date back to the ancient Greeks and still impart a sense of timelessness with every sip.

Producers: Struzziero DiMeo Azienda Agricola Sorrentino

Region: Puglia

Description: The “heel of the boot” is a low lying peninsula with such an exceptional growing climate, it surpasses other regions in production and output. Known for country wines and blended wines in the past, it’s range of grape variety, both native and foreign, has produced excellent reds, whites, roses as well as sweet dessert wines.

Producers: Antonio Ceresa Tenuta Viglione Coppi

Region: Sicily

Description: Being the largest island in the Mediterranean, covered in vines and producing more wine then any other region, Sicily, known for its marsala, is shifting gears. Local varieties such as the red Nero d’Avola and white Inzolia are being combined with foreign varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot and the results have been stunning. Sicily is enjoying a magnificent upturn in the quality of all the wine it produces.

Producers: Antonio Ceresa Frazzitta Opici Avide Elorina

Region: Marche

Description: Influences of the Adriatic sea and the Apennine mountain range provide warm days and cool nights that give these white wines an excellent combination of fruit and acidity. Rosso Piceno and Rosso Conero, the best known reds of this region, are also balanced and have an abundant fuitiness.

Producers: Meletti Opici

Region: Sardegna

Description: This isolated Mediterranean isle has had many foreign influences over the centuries, Spaniards in particular. Various clones of the Moscato and Malvasia are Mediterranean stalwarts but several other varieties such as Cannonau, Monica, and Vernaccia di Oristano are unique in Italy.

Producers: Sardus Pater

Region: Lombardia

Description: While wine making does not rank high among its numerous industries, this most northern region does produce a truly excellent Nebbio red as well as classic sparkling wines of Franciacort, which has attained the status of DOC.

Producers: Travaglino