Wine tourism guide: The best destinations for tasting Italian wines

Italy has long been a must-visit location for those who like a good glass of wine. With so many terroirs and areas to select from, one could easily spend weeks bringing wine vacation ideas to life.

For anyone considering a trip to a distinct wine destination in Italy soon, there are many areas to consider checking out. Here is a list of the top Italian wine destinations. In these locations, visitors can sample some of the most globally acclaimed wines the country has to offer.

What is it about Italy’s wines that makes them so popular?

Over the past 4,000 years, Italy has grown into a distinguished wine-producing country. For many years, the beverage has been one of the country’s most profitable exports.

Italian wine is simply delicious, perhaps because the country boasts of having one of the best climates for growing grapes and making wine, and it is an essential part of Italian culture.

However, not all of Italy’s wine-making regions are as well-known as others. There are significant, lesser-known terroirs (regions) in the nation worth visiting. 

Trentino-Alto Adige

The Trentino-Alto Adige terroir is located in the northernmost part of Italy at altitudes of up to 1,100 meters. Because these wines are produced at high altitudes, the white and red wines here stay fresh and have a unique taste.

Pinot Noir and Merlot are the two most popular wines in this region. They contain flavours of raspberry and dark chocolate, respectively. There’s also the white Gewürztraminer, which has a taste that’s a mouthwatering combination of pear, melon and honey.

Piedmont

Many wine experts regard the Piedmont region of Italy as one of the greatest Italian terroirs for both red and white wines. In addition, it is the home of Barolo, which connoisseurs consider to be one of the best wines in the world. Its appeal is increased by the fact that it is only made in small amounts each year.

Another product of this terroir is the sweet Moscato dessert wine, which has flavours of peach and orange that pair beautifully with pastries. Additionally, the white wine, Arneis is produced here. This full-bodied wine has aromas of sweet and crisp stone fruit.

Veneto

As a result of the soil in the Veneto area of Italy, the region produces some of the world’s most outstanding wines. These include Pinot Grigio and Prosecco, both of which are often found on the wine lists of many restaurants.

The region is especially celebrated for its wonderful red wines, such as Amarone and Valpolicella Classico. The vineyards produce them in small quantities every year.

Puglia

This region in southern Italy is home to the bulk of the country’s vineyards, so it is one of the most popular places for tourists who want to go on a wine tour of Italy as there are so many places to visit.

Primitivo (also known as Zinfandel) and Negroamaro are the region’s two most often planted red wine grape varieties. The wines produced from these grapes have distinct flavour profiles that include blackberry, coffee and vanilla. They also have trademarked peppery flavours that make them a good match for dark meats like roast beef.

Toscana

The last location on our list of the top Italian terroirs is Toscana (also known as Tuscany). It’s located in central Italy and is especially noted for its red wines.

Montalcino and Chianti Classico are two popular Sangiovese-based wines produced in the area, and they are both produced from the famous Chianti vine.

Conclusion

To taste the best Italian wines, a journey to some of Italy’s most famous wine regions is the best way to do it. It’s best to start in the northernmost region of Trentino-Alto Adige and work one’s way down to Piedmont, before ending up in the southernmost province of Puglia. In these wine destination areas, visitors are guaranteed to taste some of the most incredible white, red, and sparkling wines that the nation has to offer.

If a holiday isn’t on the cards, it’s easy to purchase the wines online and enjoying them at home. Whichever option, there’s no question people enjoy some of the most delicious and popular wine in the world.

The editorial unit