Regional Winemaking Map
Roll over each of the five regions to learn about winemaking in that area.
Districts: Piedmont, Lombardy, Liguria, Valle d'Aosta
Location: Bordered by the Alps in the North and West, and the Ligurian Sea in the South
Climate: Cold and long winters, with frequent periods of fog. Summers are hot and hailstorms are common. Long autumns create perfect conditions for the late ripening of Nebbiolo grapes.
Grape Varieties: Barbara, Muscat, Nebbiolo, Dolcetto
Fast Facts: Piedmont is most esteemed for two red wines produced here. Barolo and Barbaresco, and the world's most popular sparkling wine, Asti Spumante. Premium grape production centers on the town of Alba, renowned for smooth reds and whites.
Districts: Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Location: Between the Dolomites in the North that occupy more than half the region and the Adriatic Sea in the South
Climate: Northeast Italy is on the sunny Southern side of the Alps, protected from the damp cold of central Europe. Ocean breezes keep winters fairly mild, although vintage-affecting variations in weather are common.
Grape Varieties: Numerous types, including Pinot Grigio, Soave, Valpolicella, and many French and German varieties. Red grapes dominate, with white grapes quickly catching up.
Fast Facts: Commonly known as the 'Tre Venezie' for the Friuli-Venezia Giula, Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige regions, where Pinot Grigio is the fastest growing varietal wine
Wines from Region: Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio, Ecco Domani Merlot, Ecco Domani Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio, Ecco Domani Cabernet/Merlot
Districs: Tuscany, Umbria, Latium
Location: Between the Tyrrhenian Sea in the West and the Apennines in the North and East
Climate: SCharacterized by long, dry summers, ample sunshine, and moderate winters
Grape Varieties: Sangiovese, Malvasia, Trebbiano
Fast Facts: Home of the "Super Tuscans," it is here that wine makers challenged tradition in the late 1960's to the late 1980's and created premium wines without DOCG classification. Chianti and Vino Nobile de Montepulciano are among this region's notable creations.
Wines of Region: Ecco Domani Chianti
Districts: Emilia-Romagna, Abruzzi, Molise, the Marches
Location: Encompasses the Adriatic Coast
Climate: Hot and dry with ample sunshine. Winters are tempered by Mediterranean breezes.
Grape Varieties: Numerous, with the most notable being Verdicchio, Trebbiano, and Montepulciano
Fast Facts: This region produces the largest quantity of bulk-blending wines, and its most popular export has been Lambrusco. Recently, winegrowers have introduced non-traditional varieties to the area such as Chardonnay, while improving Lambrusco and continually exploring the many unique and interesting varietals native to this region.
Districts: Sardinia, Sicily, Campania, Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria
Location: Includes the islands and the southern-most area of Italy
Climate: Warm and dry, mostly hilly, tempered by maritime winds
Grape Varieties: Numerous, but led by Primitivo (similar to the California Zinfandel grape) and Uva di Troia, a Greek grape originating in the ancient town of Troy; both are cultivated mostly in Apulia.
Fast Facts: Calabria is one of the most ancient wine producing areas in Italy; production dates to the 6th century Greek settlers. The best known wine from the area, Ciro, is traditionally believed to have descended from a wine consumed by athletes of the ancient Olympic games.