Known Italian wines

Italy has a rich and varied wine heritage dating back over two thousand years. Among the best known, prized and loved Italian wines, Chianti , Amarone , Franciacorta , Primitivo di Manduria , Prosecco and Moscato are a perfect example that make the country a symbol of excellence for the sector. Famous for its extraordinary variety of vines from which they are produced among the best wines and labels, Italy is also considerable for wine production, equaled only by France and Spain: just over 4 billion liters in 2012, from 800,000 hectares of vineyards. All Italian regions are to some extent producers of wine, from white to red to bubbles and rosé; each with its own style and peculiarities. Among the most significant, we find Tuscany the home of Chianti, Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino ; Piedmont, with Barolo, a great wine that has long been called "the King"; and Veneto, where in addition to Prosecco, Amarone della Valpolicella has also gained increasing worldwide fame.

The Italian vineyards are home to over 2000 varieties of grapes, among which the best known are Sangiovese , Barbera , Nebbiolo, Montepulciano and Pinot Grigio, which, although technically more French, has also perfectly integrated into Italy. In fact, all the Italian vines, famous or not, have to face serious competition with better known French varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon , Merlot , Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc . These internationally renowned grapes are grown in increasing numbers on the peninsula and with high success rates. Some of the finest wines in Italy are produced by these "foreign" varieties. An obvious example is the first in the ranking of the best Italian wines: Supertuscan Bolgheri , which is mainly produced by Cabernet Sauvignon with about 15% of Cabernet Franc.

1. Tenuta San Guido , Bolgheri DOC "Sassicaia", Tuscany;
2. Marchesi Antinori , Tuscany IGT "Tignanello" , Tuscany;
3. Ornellaia, Bolgheri Superiore DOC, Tuscany;
4. Masseto, Toscana IGT, Toscana;
5. Marchesi Antinori, Tuscany IGT " Solaia ", Tuscany;
6. Giacomo Conterno, Barolo DOCG Riserva Monfortino, Piedmont;
7. Gaja, Barberesco DOCG, Piedmont;
8. Fontodi , Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT "Flaccianello della Pieve", Tuscany;
9. Bartolo Mascarello, Barolo DOCG, Piedmont;
10. Montevertine, Tuscany IGT "Le Pergole Torte", Tuscany.

But like the top 10, the list of wines from 11 to 100 is still largely dominated by Bordeaux blends produced in Tuscany and Sangiovese wines, together with Barolo and Barbaresco . However, Venetian red wines and in particular Valpolicella are starting to show up.