Italian wine

Italian wine is among the most diverse and influential wine cultures in the world. From powerful reds like Barolo, Brunello, and Amarone to the popular and accessible Primitivo, and from crisp whites to sparkling styles like Prosecco and Franciacorta, Italy offers an unparalleled breadth of flavors, regions, and styles. Thanks to thousands of years of viticulture and hundreds of indigenous grape varieties, Italy produces wines that range from elegant and mineral to deep, rich, and sultry.

What is Italian wine?

Italian wine encompasses red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines from all 20 of Italy's wine regions. The country is known for iconic wines such as Barolo , Brunello di Montalcino , and Amarone della Valpolicella , three of Europe's greatest red wines. Moreover, Primitivo has become one of the most beloved and accessible wines in the Netherlands thanks to its sultry, soft, and ripe style. Italy also produces premium sparkling wines like Franciacorta and more accessible bubbles like Prosecco , while modern coastal regions like Bolgheri are world-renowned for their refined "Super Tuscan" blends.

Origin and vineyards

Italy stretches from the Alps to Sicily and has a unique mosaic of microclimates.

Key terroir characteristics:

• Northern Italy – mountain climate, cool nights, mineral and fresh (Piemonte, Veneto, Alto Adige ).
• Central Italy – warm hills with Mediterranean influences, ideal for Sangiovese (Tuscany).
• Southern Italy – sunny and warm, produces soft and sultry styles such as Primitivo and Negroamaro (Puglia, Sicily ).
• Coastal zones – maritime influence for elegant blends such as in Bolgheri.
• Volcanic soils – such as in Soave and Sicily for high tension and minerality.

Thanks to centuries-old traditions and modern technology, Italy is one of the most versatile wine countries in the world.

Styles and vinification

Red wine

Italian red wines range from powerful and structured to soft and sultry.

Main red styles and icons
• Barolo ( Piedmont ) – 100% Nebbiolo, powerful, complex, long-lived.
• Brunello di Montalcino ( Tuscany ) – 100% Sangiovese Grosso, elegant, deep and refined.
• Amarone della Valpolicella ( Veneto ) – appassimento, very rich and concentrated.
• Primitivo ( Puglia ) – sultry, round, loved in the Netherlands for its accessibility and warm fruit.
• Bolgheri (“Super Tuscans” from Tuscany) – Cabernet and Merlot-based top wines with international allure.

General characteristics of Italian red wine
• Variation from fresh acidity (North) to sultry ripeness (South).
• Combination of traditional and modern maturing techniques.
• Wide range of tannins, structure and alcohol content.

White wine

Italy also produces exceptional white wine styles.

• Fresh, mineral: Soave, Gavi, Pinot Grigio, Alto Adige white.
• Aromatic: Verdicchio, Vermentino, Falanghina, Fiano.
• Elegant and creamy: some Tuscan Chardonnays and Friuli wines.

Sparkling

Italian bubbles are among the best and most diverse in the world.

• Prosecco DOC / DOCG – fruity, fresh, accessible.
• Franciacorta – traditional method, similar to Champagne, very refined.
• Trento DOC – sparkling on high mountain vineyards, very elegant.

Storage and serving

• Barolo: 10–25+ years
• Brunello di Montalcino: 10–20+ years
• Amarone: 8–15+ years
• Bolgheri blends: 8–15 years
• Primitivo: 4–8 years
• Fresh white wines: 2–4 years
• Franciacorta / Prosecco: 1–3 years

Serving temperatures:
• Red wine: 16–18 degrees
• White wine: 8–11 degrees
• Sparkling: 6–8 degrees

Buy Italian wine at Perfectewijn.nl

At Perfecte Wijn, you'll find a carefully curated selection of Italian wines: powerful icons like Barolo, Brunello, and Amarone, sunny and accessible Primitivos, crisp and elegant whites, and both Prosecco and Franciacorta for sparkling wine lovers. Modern top regions like Bolgheri are also represented, with wines that combine international luxury and Tuscan finesse.