Here is a brief look at the 9 most popular wine grape varieties of Italy.
Sangiovese Typical of central Italy, Lazio, Campania and Sicily, the Sangiovese grape is one of the most robust and well-known grapes of Italy producing wines such as Chianti Classico, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino. These are wines indicative of the Tuscan area.
Nebbiolo Grown and produced in the Piedmont area, the Nebbiolo grape is known for wines such as Barolo, Barbaresco, Roero, Gattinara and more. This grape generally produces wines which can mature to nobile levels, light in color and strong in tannin.
Montepulciano Produced and grown in southern Italy, in the areas of Abruzzo, Lazio, Molise, Umbria and Apulia the Montepulciano grape is used to make DOCG wines such as Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Rosso Conero, Rosso Piceno Superiore and more. It is often confused with the prestigious Vino Nobile Montepulciano, which is not made with Montepulciano grapes at all (made with Sangiovese) but shares the same name nonetheless as it is made in Montepulciano.
Primitivo Traditionally grown in Apulia and Sicily, Primtivo grape is home to 3 DOC areas which produce Primitivo di Manduria, Gioia del Colle Primitivo and Falerno del Massico Primitivo. The grape generally produces high alcohol content wine, rosé wines and rustic wines.
Aglianico Typical of the Basilicata, Camapania and Apulian areas, Aglianico grape produces quality wines such as Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG and Taurasi DOCG, known as the Brunello di Montalcino of the south.
Barbera One of the most popular grapes of Italy (alongside Sangiovese and Montepulciano), the Barbera grape is known for its high acid, low tannin yielding wines. Its DOCG wines produced in the Piedmont area include Nizza DOCG, Barbera d’Asti and it is often used in blends with Nebbiolo and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Chardonnay Produced in Northern Italy, the Chardonnay grape is often used in Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay and in popular Italian blends such as the Ribolla Gialla, Vermentino, Viognier and more. The Lombardy and Veneto region uses this grape in the production of spumante and it can also be found in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia wine region.
Glera Best known for its production of Prosecco wine in northern Italy, the Glera grape is used sparkling wines such as Prosecco DOCG and DOC. Typical of the Veneto region, there is large production of this grape variety in areas such as Conegliano and Valdobbiadene.
Nero d’Avola Known as one of the most important grapes in Sicilian wine production, the Nero d’Avola grape is native to Italy. It produces dry red wines high in alcohol, sweet in tannins and bold in spice.
Sangiovese Typical of central Italy, Lazio, Campania and Sicily, the Sangiovese grape is one of the most robust and well-known grapes of Italy producing wines such as Chianti Classico, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino. These are wines indicative of the Tuscan area.
Nebbiolo Grown and produced in the Piedmont area, the Nebbiolo grape is known for wines such as Barolo, Barbaresco, Roero, Gattinara and more. This grape generally produces wines which can mature to nobile levels, light in color and strong in tannin.
Montepulciano Produced and grown in southern Italy, in the areas of Abruzzo, Lazio, Molise, Umbria and Apulia the Montepulciano grape is used to make DOCG wines such as Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Rosso Conero, Rosso Piceno Superiore and more. It is often confused with the prestigious Vino Nobile Montepulciano, which is not made with Montepulciano grapes at all (made with Sangiovese) but shares the same name nonetheless as it is made in Montepulciano.
Primitivo Traditionally grown in Apulia and Sicily, Primtivo grape is home to 3 DOC areas which produce Primitivo di Manduria, Gioia del Colle Primitivo and Falerno del Massico Primitivo. The grape generally produces high alcohol content wine, rosé wines and rustic wines.
Aglianico Typical of the Basilicata, Camapania and Apulian areas, Aglianico grape produces quality wines such as Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG and Taurasi DOCG, known as the Brunello di Montalcino of the south.
Barbera One of the most popular grapes of Italy (alongside Sangiovese and Montepulciano), the Barbera grape is known for its high acid, low tannin yielding wines. Its DOCG wines produced in the Piedmont area include Nizza DOCG, Barbera d’Asti and it is often used in blends with Nebbiolo and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Chardonnay Produced in Northern Italy, the Chardonnay grape is often used in Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay and in popular Italian blends such as the Ribolla Gialla, Vermentino, Viognier and more. The Lombardy and Veneto region uses this grape in the production of spumante and it can also be found in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia wine region.
Glera Best known for its production of Prosecco wine in northern Italy, the Glera grape is used sparkling wines such as Prosecco DOCG and DOC. Typical of the Veneto region, there is large production of this grape variety in areas such as Conegliano and Valdobbiadene.
Nero d’Avola Known as one of the most important grapes in Sicilian wine production, the Nero d’Avola grape is native to Italy. It produces dry red wines high in alcohol, sweet in tannins and bold in spice.
