Wine Tasting in Italy

Wine tasting in Italy can be as complex and deep or as easy going and light as you make it — you just have to take it region by region. One way to make the whole experience easy, no matter how much of a wine connoisseur or novice you are, is to break the Italian boot into sections.

Piedmont

Bordering Switzerland and France, just south of the Alps, Piedmont is known for its red wine and Nebbiolo and Dolcetto grapes. The northern region produces interesting reds such as Barolo and Barbaresco, with varying tannic qualities and coloring, as well as its popular Moscato d’Asti — a sweet sometimes sparkling wine.

Trentino

For your white wine drinkers, Trentino offers more options of the Pinot Grigio and Pinot Bianco variety. Located in Northern Italy, Trentino resides in a rugged landscape surrounded by mountains and rolling natural parks, all north of the cosmopolitan streets and canals of Venice.

Tuscany

A little further south in Italy’s central region, the world-famous Tuscan wine region could have earned its popularity on beauty alone. Luckily, for wine aficionados, this region boasts excellent Chiantis, Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcinos — just pair with a hearty Bolognese pasta.

Umbria

For those blended reds and rich Sangiovese grapes, Umbria is a fun region to explore. Bordering Tuscany, Umbria boasts Medieval ruins and architecture, rich forests primed for truffle hunting and robust wines.

Southern Italy

One region you may need to make its own trip: the wine-growing regions of Southern Italy. This landscape encapsulates all the vineyards of Puglia, Sicily, Sardinia, Calabria, Abruzzo and Campania — just to name a few.