Raise your glasses, February 18 is Global Drink Wine Day! So why not start planning your next Italian holiday while sipping some good Italian wine? And to help you in your planning, you may want to consider the best Italian regions for wine lovers.
Italy sure is one of the best countries in the world for wine tourism. It has approximately 400 varieties of grapes native to the country, which means there’s a wine to suit everyone's taste! It is also the largest producer of wine.
Holidu, a search engine for holiday rentals, has conducted a study that analyzes the best regions in Europe for wine lovers. It’s no surprise (to us at least!) that Italy dominates the list with five of the top 10 spots.
So which are the best Italian wine regions?
The first to appear in the list (second overall) is Sicily, which boasts one of Europe’s most dynamic wine industries. The region’s biodiversity gives birth to a variety of splendid wines, including Nero d’Avola, Nerello Mascalese, Malvasia, Zibibbo, Novello, and Catarratto Bianco, among others. Keep in mind they are rather strong!
Ranking fourth in Holidu’s list is another southern region, Campania. This is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in Italy, going back to the 12th century BC. Some of the best wines from this region include Aglianico, Greco di Tufo, Fiano, Falanghina, and Taurasi.
Right after Campania comes Umbria, the green heart of Italy, renowned in particular for the Sagrantino red grape. A variety of international grapes, mainly Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, are also grown in this region of central Italy.
For wine lovers, Tuscany is definitely a region not to be missed. This region is responsible for producing some of the most highly regarded wines on the planet, such as Chianti, which can be traced as far back as the 14th century.
To close Holidu’s list is another region that boasts some of the best wines in the world, Piedmont, producers of such iconic wines as Barolo, Barbaresco, and Barbera d'Asti.
The reason why Tuscany and Piedmont close the list rather than topping it is likely because the methodology for the study also took into consideration the average price of a bottle of wine. Piedmontese and Tuscan wines are more expensive than their southern counterparts.
To read the full study, click here.
Want to know more about southern Italian wines? Read our interview with Robert Camuto, author of "South of Somewhere - Wine, Food and the Soul of Italy."
