Home to 20 different wine-producing regions and wealth of indigenous grapes, Italy offers no shortage of bottles to explore. And while the nation may be known for big, bold reds, it also offers a wealth of refreshing white wines that hail from Sardinia and Sicily to Abruzzo, Alto Adige and beyond.
“All 20 regions produce white wine and within each region, many appellations make white wines,” says Wine Enthusiast Writer-at-Large Jeff Porter, who reviews wines from the peninsula. “That specific location and specific grape will give each wine its specificity, which makes Italy one of the great places for white wine.”
Though these bottlings can vary widely in aroma and texture—from the volcanic and briny whites of Sicily to fruity and textural Soave and mineral-driven Gavi—”the key to Italian white is acidity,” says Porter.
“Across the country and different grape varieties, the wines will have a zingy nature and freshness that keep the wines vibrant from start to finish,” he adds. “No matter if it is a light and crisp white or full in body, there will always be that snap on the palate. It is one of the main reasons the wines pair so well across cuisines and can age in your cellar (at a value!).”
Though the country offers plenty of higher-priced whites—like Cantina Terlano 2021 Vorberg Pinot Bianco Riserva Pinot Bianco from Alto Adige, a $50-plus bottle that earned a spot on the list of Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Cellar Selections of 2024—it also boasts plenty
This Article was originally published on Wine Enthusiast
