We’ve been lucky enough to explore the wine regions of Italy for the past 25 years. Through building connections with the local winemakers, learning about their family history, and of course, sampling their delicious wine, we’ve learned where you’ll get the most authentic winery experiences. With our expertise in the Piedmont, Veneto, and Friuli wine regions, we decided to set up Joy of Wine Journeys and take others on a once-in-a-lifetime food and wine tour through Italy.
We’re often asked what our favorite Italian wine region is, but there are too many to pick from. Today, we’ll share with you some of our favorites! Our list is rather Northern-centric because this is the part of Italy that has captured our hearts. That and the fact that the microclimate in the north of Italy creates the perfect conditions to make exquisite wine. We value quality over quantity, which is why for this article we’ve only chosen the five best regions for wineries in Italy.
Piedmont Wine Region
The Piedmont wine region is situated between the cold Alps and the warm Ligurian Sea. This temperature difference causes the whole region to fill with early morning fog that dissipates as the day goes on. The land higher up, which is home to most of the region’s vineyards, doesn’t suffer as much from this early morning fog. Instead, the vineyards bask in the sunshine and if there is one thing that grapes love, it’s the sun. Wine that is grown in higher altitudes ripens quicker than wine grown in lower altitudes.
The Piedmont wine region is famous for its age-worthy red wines including the world-renowned “King of Wines”: Barolo. Barolo is a full-bodied wine with tasting notes of cherry, rose, and tar, and has been aged for at least 36 months. Barbaresco wines, which are also produced in the Piedmont region, require at least 24 months and tend to be fruitier than Barolo. Both Barolo and Barbaresco wines are produced using the Nebbiolo grape, but they only account for 3% of the wine production in the Piedmont region. In addition to producing Nebbiolo and Barbera grapes, Tenuta Santa Caterina Winery also produces Grignolino and Freisa grape varieties, and Demarie Winery also produces Arneis, and Barbera grapes. We visit both of these wineries on our Italy wine and food tour to sample the variety of wines produced, paired with delicious fresh pasta and locally foraged truffles.
Lombardy Wine Region
The Lombardy wine region borders the Swiss Alps. The Alps help trap the warm air during the day and provide a cooling effect at night while the four lakes in the region, Lake Como, Lake Maggiore, Lake Iseo, and Lake Garda, help to regulate the temperature throughout the year. This cooler climate produces high-quality grapes and unique-tasting wines.
The wineries in this region have produced some of the oldest wines in the world: famous for the sparkling wines of Franciacorta and Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico, the earthier Merlot, and the fruity Cabernet Sauvignon. Just like the Piedmont region, Lombardy also specializes in producing wine using the Nebbiolo grape but they refer to this grape as Chiavennasca.
Veneto Wine Region
In comparison to the previous two wine regions of Piedmont and Lombardy, the Veneto wine region is notably smaller. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in wine production. The mild climate of Veneto benefits from enough rainfall and sunshine to support excellent grape growth. Specializing in white and red grape varieties: the white wine produced in the Veneto region mainly uses Glera, Pinot Grigio, Garganega, and Chardonnay grapes, while the red wine mainly uses Corvinone, Corvina, Merlot, Rondinella, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc grapes.
We’ll visit the Le Morette Winery in Veneto on our Italy wine tour and engage in a tasting of their white, rose, and red wines.
Tuscany Wine Region
The Tuscany wine region hugs the charming Ligurian coastline and stretches out into the Italian countryside. The vineyards flourish in the picturesque rolling Tuscan hills, benefiting from the warm air from the sea, which causes the climate to be warmer with less rain. The grapes grown in Tuscany ripen quicker, producing wine that naturally has a higher alcohol content and also tastes richer and fruitier.
The Tuscany wineries have developed and honed their winemaking craft over centuries, which has allowed them to produce some of the most celebrated wines in the world. The region is best known for its Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano red wines, which are all produced using Sangiovese grapes.
Friuli Wine Region
Nestled between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea, the Friuli wine region experiences more rainfall than other parts of Italy. The cooler climate creates the ideal conditions for producing refreshing white wine, which tends to taste drier and crispier with hints of fruitiness. The region is famous for producing sparkling Pinot Bianco dessert wine and dry white wines, commonly made from Pinot Grigio, Friulano, and Chardonnay grapes.
On our Italy wine tour, we visit the stunning Borgo San Daniele for a tasting led by the winemaker followed by lunch at the winery. The Borgo San Daniele winery is one of less than 200 wineries in Italy to have earned the coveted Three Glasses “Tre Bicchieri” Award more than ten times; an award that showcases Italy’s finest wines.
The best way to experience the incredible wine regions of Italy is by booking Joy of Wine’s highly-rated 10-day Wine & Food Tour in Northern Italy. This tour will take you on an adventure of a lifetime as you embark on exclusive winery tours and tastings, visit the magnificent Miramare Castle, go truffle hunting, and enjoy delectable meals. We also offer an unforgettable 11-day Wine Tour of France. If you have any questions about our tours, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
