Italy is home to a countless number of native grape varieties – so why would you stick to the same three? This summer is the perfect time to experiment with Italian white wine. In this article, we’re going to explore a diverse selection of regions and grapes, all from the 8Wines portfolio. We’re including the classic crisp whites, but also going beyond, into the territory of lesser-known indigenous varieties.
What Makes Italian Wine Worth Exploring
Italy is massively diverse in terms of its geography and climate: you have the foggy northern region of Piedmont, the mountainous, ocean-influenced region of Abruzzo, the stifling heat of Puglia in the south, and much more in between.
The specific terroir and tradition of a location are also extremely important to Italian winemakers – they take great pride in expressing them, and usually keep matters hyper-local. This means that even within one region, you can have multitudes of different styles and flavours, making it a rich country to explore.
Before we start exploring white wines in detail, it’s worth talking about how to read their labels, and the Italian classification system as a whole. We can start with IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica), which is one of the broadest classifications you’ll find in our Italian catalogue. IGT essentially means the wine focuses on a particular region, rather than the grape or method used: for example, Toscana IGT or Veneto IGT.
DOC (or Denominazione di Origine Controllata) is one level more specific. There are over 300 DOC regions scattered throughout the country, and to be classified as DOC, winemakers must obey specific rules regarding the geographic area, the percentages of grape varieties used, and the style of the wine (still, sparkling, etc.). This all contributes to a higher quality wine. Examples of DOC regions include Soave, Bardolino, and Barbera d’Alba.
Finally, DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) classification requires the wines to be made according to strict winemaking procedures, and the resulting wine is also taste-tested before being classified. Famous examples of these strict DOCG regions are Barolo, Prosecco, and Fiano di Avellino.
Italian White Wine Summer: 10 to Try
Inama: Vigneti di Foscarino Soave Classico
We’re starting in the north, in the Soave region of Veneto, with Inami winery. If you’re tired of drinking Pinot Grigio, this 100% Garganega wine is a great alternative. It was grown in volcanic soils in the shadow of Monte Foscarino, and as a DOC wine, pays tribute to hundreds of years of Soave tradition. It is light, crisp, and mineral-rich, loaded with notes of citrus and peach, with an undercurrent of spice. We believe food pairings are particularly important with Italian wine, so if you’re seeking a match for polenta or seafood, this is a perfect choice.
Pasqua Vigneti e Cantine: Hey French, You Could Have Made This But You Didn't
In a similar vein, we have this tongue-in-cheek Garganega wine, provoking the age-old winemaking rivalry between France and Italy. It’s an IGT-level wine from Soave, which involved partial fermentation in oak barrels, followed by 6 months of ageing in them too. This makes it unusual for a Soave, but proves our point about the massive diversity found in Italian whites. It is medium-bodied and intense, with strong green apple and pear flavours. Perfect for pairing with white meat dishes.
Tunella: Sauvignon Blanc
Let’s move further north, to Friuli and the Italian border with Slovenia. This offering from Tunella is an absolute classic. It is from a sun-soaked family-owned vineyard, and is aged on the lees before release. It’s an ideal pairing for seafood, and brings all of the classic Sauvignon Blanc elements, such as citrus and orchard fruits, freshly mown grass, and an undeniably crisp character. Drink it out on your (or your friend’s) terrace on a sunny evening.
Franz Haas: Manna
In the Alto Adige region of Italy, neighbouring Friuli, things become a bit more Central European in character. This wine from Franz Haas was crafted using Riesling and Gewürztraminer grapes (Austrian favourites), along with some Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. It is a beautiful blend, giving strong notes of tropical fruit, citrus, green apple, and a healthy dose of vanilla and cream, due to resting on the lees for 5 to 8 months.
La Scolca: Gavi dei Gavi
In Italy’s mountainous northwest, the La Scolca winery sets the standard for anybody who uses the native Cortese grape. Roughly translating to “courteous” or “polite”, Cortese is a moderate and agreeable grape, proving to be an excellent aperitif. This Gavi dei Gavi is a DOCG wine, only made using the finest grapes from 60-year-old vineyards. It shows refined notes of white peach, green apple, pear, and citrus, with subtle hints of almond and butter.
Querciabella: Batar
We’re leaving the north of Italy now, and heading to a region that is mostly known for red wines and Sangiovese grapes: Tuscany. This is a recommendation where the label can be deceiving. Querciabella’s Batar is labelled as an IGT wine, but its quality is absolutely unmatched, and it is highly collectable, regardless of the classification. Approximately 15,000 bottles are made every year. It is inspired by French white Burgundy wines, using a mixture of Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco, harvested from high-altitude vineyards in Ruffoli. However, it’s undeniably Italian in character, with a cornucopia of fruit, nut, and herb flavours packed into a concentrated bottle. It’s perfect for pairing with mushrooms, chicken, or for enjoying on its own.
Antinori Cervaro Della Sala
Chardonnay is a popular blending partner in premium Italian white wines, and we see that again with Antinori Cervaro Della Sala’s white. It includes a portion of Grechetto, a grape with Greek origins that is planted throughout the central region of Umbria. This is one of the fuller-bodied wines on this list, perfect for people who love Viognier, or buttery oaked Chardonnays. You can discover hints of tropical fruit on the palate, alongside lemon zest, apple, and buttered bread.
Villa Bucci: Verdicchio Riserva
There aren’t many world-famous Italian white grapes – Pinot Grigio, and perhaps Trebbiano and Vermentino. Verdicchio is another one of Italy’s unsung heroes. It is known nationwide for its slightly green hue and complex aromatic profile. Villa Bucci is one of the most famous wineries on Italy’s east coast, and their Verdicchio Riserva is a tremendous wine, a favourite of critics since its inception in 1983. We recommend pairing it with food, as it is highly versatile: perhaps roast chicken, Pecorino, or Provolone.
Capichera: Vign'Angena Vermentino
Before we head to Sicily, let’s take a stop at Italy’s second-biggest offshore winemaking region: Sardinia. Vign’Angena is a term that roughly means “the vineyards of others”, as when the Capichera winery started making this wine, they purchased the grapes from growers. This is an unadulterated, crisp Vermentino, aged in stainless steel tanks. Vermentino is essentially the perfect summer wine, and a good alternative to Pinot Grigio. It’s fresh, lively, and loaded with citrus flavours, best served chilled alongside some seafood.
Passopisciaro: Passobianco
For our final wine, we’re departing from Italian grapes completely. This one was made with 100% Chardonnay, harvested in the shadow of Mount Etna. Despite not being a native grape, Chardonnay is the perfect prism for Sicily’s distinct terroir. The mineral-rich volcanic soils, the high altitude, and the proximity to the ocean all come through in the final result. It balances sweet honey and white-fleshed fruit flavours with savoury notes of saline and chalk. We recommend pairing Passobianco with any regional Sicilian seafood dish, vegetarian arancini, or creamy pasta.
Italy in 10 Bottles
From the head to the toe of the peninsula, these are our big recommendations for Italian white wine in the coming year. However, it must be reiterated that Italian white wine is deeper than it is broad: every region has small winemakers doing something unique with their wines, and it would take a lifetime to explore them all. This list of 10 bottles is merely an introduction. This year, let your wine glass take you from the slopes of the Alps in Piedmont to the sun-drenched ports of Sicily – no actual travelling required.
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