Italy is the largest wine producing country, including export. The country has several microclimates where you’ll find outstanding wines. The Romans were refined in making wine. Their knowledge was distributed throughout Europe. Throughout the country (1.300km from north to south) there have different grape varieties which you only find in Italy, such as the Verdicchio, Trebbiano, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Albana and the Vernaccia.

Northern Italy
Northern Italy contains seven regions: Valle d'Aosta, Piedmont, Lombardy, Adige, Trento-Alto Adige, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto. The areas are surrounded by the Dolomites, the Alps and Apennines. That’s why these wines are called: vini pedemontani (wines from the foot of the mountains). Piedmont is especially known for its quality wines.

Central Italy
The wines from this area are called 'vini centrali’, located south of the Po River on to the hills of Bologna.

Western Italy
To the west along the coast are the provinces Ligura, Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio, Campania, Basilicata and Calabria. Especially the Tuscan wines are very good.

Eastern Italy
Wines from this region are called ‘vini Adriatici’. The provinces are Marche, Abruzzo, Molise and Apulia.

Islands
The islands of Italy are Sardinia and Sicily. They call the wines ‘vini Mediterranei’. The volcano the Etna gives a separate volcanic soil composition. The wines are powerful and long to keep.

Wine Legislation in Italy
Italy knows the ‘Act 164’ also called the ‘Law of Goria,’ (name after the former Minister of Agriculture). It is a young, but a very modern and complete law. The law aims: strict control over all aspects of viticulture and to increase the number of classified wines.

1. Vino da Tavola
It is an anonymous table wine to which only the color is indicated, often sold in bulk. Although some wine producers resent the wine laws and prefer their own way to go. Therefore they do not qualify for a DOC or DOCG status. But it doesn’t mean a lack of quality. In Tuscany, these wines are called Super Tuscans like the Tignanello for example.
2. Indicazione Gegografica Tipica (IGT)
These wines are similar to the so called "country wine". Relatively simple wines with a geographical indication and to become future DOC wines.
3. Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC)
This is the category like quality wines in France, with a quality indication of origin.
4. Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantía (DOCG)
These are the wines of Italy. They have a numbered total quality seal (Scelto di Stato) and are also approved in taste.

The classification should be applied every year. Wines with a fairly constant DOCG status:

Wine language of Italy