Italy is definitely better known for red than for white wine, but there are some popular, economical white wines from Italy. Fiano grows on the southwest coast of Italy, mainly within Campania and also in Sicily. Building 1, 658 Church Street, Richmond VIC 3121 Australia. The best Pinot Grigios come from Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Moscato Giallo belongs to the muscat family and is renowned for its golden-yellow fruits. Prosecco wines are usually dry, although as the glera grape is very fruity, it can make the wine taste sweeter than it actually is. The reputation of these fine wines are on the up – keep an eye on this region if you are building a cellar! Here are 10 of the best Italian white wines from Sicily. Pinot grigio is the Italian name for the French grape variety pinot gris. In Australia, it cool climate regions including the Adelaide Hills, King Valley, Morning Peninsula and across Tasmania. The region’s cool climate near the Alps helps grow fresh and crisp white wines … The grape is white, although its skin is purple/grey, giving meaning to its name grigio meaning grey in Italian. Sweet moscato suits foods that are of opposing flavours; spicy, sour, salty or bitter. James Halliday says that “For obscure reasons, Australia is the only other country to have recorded plantings, and it has done so with enthusiasm.” He describes the flavour notes as “citrus/lemon floral noes in the cool-climate regions, the warm-region versions sharing the almond/honeysuckle/nougat/pear characters found in Piedmont.”. Other examples are Soave white, and Frascati. Go to section: Italian White Wines | Prosecco | Pinot Grigio | Trebbiano | Fiano | Vermentino | Other Varietals | Food Pairing. Italina white wines are a little like the red wines in terms of the confusion that often surrounds these grapes and wines. Italy’s best sparkling wine is … Twelve white varieties are also quite important in Italy; here they are in alphabetical order: Arneis (ahr NASE): This old, Piedmontese variety is newly popular in the wine zones around the city of Alba. Among white, or bianco, wine grapes, the two that are commonly recognized types of Italian wine among people in the U.S. are the Muscato and the Pinot Grigio. These wines are usually dry and high in acid, but in recent years many producers seem to be making them with some sweetness, which to our taste eliminates their one virtue — their crisp, refreshing, food-friendly style — without improving the wines’ quality one iota. White wine is produced in all the 20 wine regions in Italy. Italian Wine Central: Home of Italian Wine Professionals Decipher an Italian Wine List. Many Italian white wines are fresh, crisp and perfect alongside summer occasions. Italy wears the crown as being the world's largest producer of wine. Liguria Common wines from north-wes… The Veneto region, where the Candoni de Zan winery is located, is known for its production of excellent Pinot Grigios . Mary, the only woman Master of Wine in the U.S., owns International Wine Center, a New York wine school. Two distinct white Italian varieties go by the name Vernaccia (ver NAHTCH cha), one in Tuscany and the other in Sardinia. Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto are the only two regions that can legally produce prosecco, which must be made with at least 85 percent glera. This title is available nationally and you can find a list of stockists here. Hardie Grant acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the country on which we work, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation and the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, and recognises their continuing connection to the land, waters and culture. Prosecco suits first course dishes including cured meats as prosciutto, mild cheeses, foccacias and grilled vegetables. Fiona Beckett travels from north to south in the country, seeking out the most food-friendly regional wines and suggesting dishes to match them… Trebbiano has soft flavours of lemon, minerals and stones. It's also home to some of the most iconic wine styles that have ever been made. Following are five particularly key varieties in their rough order of importance. Glera: Glera is a white wine grape variety most famous for its use in prosecco, the sparkling white wine that is Italy's answer to Champagne. Today, it’s possible to enjoy Italian wines in both traditional and modern styles that reflect the diversity of Italy’s many winemaking regions and the more than 1,000 grape varieties that thrive there. James Halliday says it's a "pleasant but unremarkable wine: with a light, gently floral bouquet and a fresh, crispy but flavour-neutral palate (unless sweetened by retention of residual sugar or by a heavy dosage).”* Australia produces great examples of prosecco, particularly within the King Valley region. *All wine styles and James Halliday quotes included within this article are taken from James Halliday's Varietal Wines. The dry version shows citrus and acidic characteristics whereas the sweet parades honey and tropical fruits. Viognier In fact, in France's Côte-Rôtie wines, winemakers blend a little Viognier with the Syrah to add an enticing scent with a nose of citrus. Types of wine A-Z What’s on the label. Vermentino is a light-skinned grape that enjoys coastal locations. Subscribe now to get the latest wines news and tasting notes, plus unlock handy features on the Halliday website. Supplemental references used for chart. Franciacorta. Muscato is a grape that is commonly used to produce sweeter wines, dessert wines, and sparkling wines. The easiest-to-recognize Italian white wine is definitely Pinot Grigio. Verduzzo Friulano comes from the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of northeast Italy, and is used to produce both dry and sweet wines. In general, this varietal is light, on the drier side, and slightly citrusy on its finish. Our range includes Pinot Grigio, Falanghina and Gavi as well as many more varietals from a variety of regions in Italy and Sicily. It’s used mainly for un-oaked wines that are variedly labeled. The red nebbiolo grape is king here, and although local consumption has always supported its local wine producers, export across Europe has always been strong. Italian style Pinot Grigio tends to be the crisp, mineral version of this dry white wine, while the French Pinot Gris style tends to be fruity and dry. Grillo is a Sicilian grape that's used to produce full-bodied white wine. Whether you’re hosting a barbecue with friends featuring lightly grilled meats, lazying on the beach with fish and chips, or simply gathering around an antipasti platter, most Italian whites will pair wonderfully. Pinot grigio, trebbiano, vermentino and fiano are magnificent alongside mild second course dishes, including baked salmon, cheesy risottos, white-based pastas and light pizzas. Other important white varieties. Ed also wrote Champagne For Dummies. J. Robinson, J. Harding and J. Vouillamoz Wine Grapes - A complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties, including their origins and flavours pgs XXVIII-XXX Allen Lane 2012 ISBN 978-1-846-14446-2 Stay up to date with Halliday Wine Companion, Receive the latest tasting notes and wine news poured directly into your inbox, About the Halliday Wine Companion Tasting Team. Trebbiano (trehb bee AH noh), known as Ugni Blanc in France, can make characterful white wines when it is grown carefully, but to a population that takes wine as casually as the Italians do, this variety is a cheap ticket to bland, neutral-tasting, light-bodied, crisp wines. The many regions of Italy are home to a variety of climatic conditions. These are some of the main Italian white wines: Talk about your Old World wines: Historians believe Italian wine has been produced for some 4,000 years. It has far more potential for flavor and character than Trebbiano does, making wines with medium body, crisp acidity, and aromas of lemon and sea air. Panettone, a classic Italian cake, is also a compatible partner. From top quality sparklers, to exquisite dry wines and rich dessert wines, Italy fits the bill for every occasion from start to finish. Here we present a selection of the principal autochthonous Italian red grape varietals.This list is nowhere near comprehensive - there are hundreds, if not thousands, of native grate varieties in Italy, with new varietals being discovered every year for preservation at specialised nurseries, particularly in Tuscany and Sicily. The Tuscan Vernaccia is the finer of the two whites. It is low in acidity and fairly flavorful, making soft and round wines with notes of melon, almonds, and flowers. When by the sea, the reflected light from the ocean plumps the grape full of flavour. The sweet, golden Sciacchetrà wines of the Cinque Terre are well-loved Ligurian white passito wines. Italian wine could easily be considered the final frontier of wine knowledge. More recent white grape varieties planted in Italy include Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Some 350 varieties of Italian grapes flourish in this beautiful land. 1. Verdicchio (ver DEEK kee oh) excels in the Marche region, on the Adriatic coast. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. Parading flavours of lively white peach and nectarine, zesty citrus fruits and pronounced minerality, its aromas hint citrus leaf and also honeydew melon. James Halliday says "there has been considerable interest in the variety for its flowery bouquet and lively acidity underlying notes of citrus, apple and pear; barrel fermentation has also been used to good effect.” Fiano a strong flavoured wine, recognised for its compelling pine nut and pesto qualities. The range of Italian white wine styles is staggering. Twelve white varieties are also quite important in Italy; here they are in alphabetical order: Mary Ewing-Mulligan and Ed McCarthy co-authored the bestselling Wine For Dummies. Key Regions 1. Abbruzzo, an Italian region east of Rome, is where this grape mainly grows, although its origin may hone back to Roman times. Cinnamon and white pepper spices can also be recognised. Three Italian white wines to buy for special occasions. Tuscany Vernaccia di San Gimignano, one of Tuscany’s most elegant white wines and grape varieties was Italy’s very first DOC wine. The main aroma and flavor descriptor of Trebbiano-based wines is “vinous” — a fancy way of saying that they smell and taste winey. Here are a few tips to give you a head start on enjoying Italian reds: Try several varieties: Italy has over 500 unique varieties. 1. While Pinot Grigio gets the lion’s share of attention, many fans of Friulian wines favor the Tocai Friulano (toh KYE free oo LAH no) grape — and this variety is the most widely planted white variety in Friuli. The pinot grigio grape is usually harvested early to capture fruity flavours for a fresh and crisp-style wine. Tips on Enjoying Italian Red Wines. It was said to be planted near nebbiolo grapes to help protect them against birds (the birds instead eating arneis). Some experts believe Tocai to be Sauvignon Vert, a variety that often passes for Sauvignon Blanc in Chile, although Italy’s Tocais are quite different from Chile’s Sauvignons. Pinot Grigio (pee noh GREE joe) is the Italian name for the French variety Pinot Gris. Italian white wines come in a huge range of styles, offering food lovers lots of potential for delicious pairings. Whatever your choice, taking a tour of Italian white wines is an enjoyable experience that you will be thankful you took. Tocai makes light- to medium-bodied wines with crisp acidity; the best of them have a rich, viscous texture and are more flavorful than the Italian norm. This white wine is produced north of Venice in a region called Valdobbiadene and is made primarily from Glera grapes, though other grape varieties can be incorporated in a small percentage. James Halliday says “In Australia, it is used in moscato (the wine style) either as a straight varietal (with lemon and gelato flavour) or blended.” Moscato Giallo makes for incredible dry wine, presenting floral and spicy aromas, with citrus flavours including grapefruit and orange. Nutty flavours come forth within the sweeter styles too. In Italy, pinot grigio is grown mostly in the northeast: Veneto, Umbria, Trentino, Emilia-Romagna, and Friuli. Whatever the variety actually is, it will soon go under a different name, yet to be determined: The European Union has required producers to desist from using the name Tocai by 2007, to avoid confusion with Hungary’s classic wine zone, Tokaji. Like other varieties of French origin, Pinot Gris immigrated to Northeastern Italy more than a century ago; its production has increased since the late 1970’s, however, because its wines have found such commercial success. Exploring Wine: Italy’s Top White-Grape Varieties, Discover Italian Wines: The Top Red-Grape Varieties. (There’s also a red Vernaccia from Marche!)