Wine Style

Italian Wine Styles

Italy produces six distinct wine styles, from bold reds to delicate sparkling. Each has its own character, grape varieties, and food pairings. Find yours.

Browse the six Italian wine styles

Italian Red wine

Red

Italy's boldest expression, structured, complex, built for food

2094 wines 48 denominations From £2.99
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Italian White wine

White

Crisp and versatile, from alpine freshness to Mediterranean warmth

1178 wines 32 denominations From £4.99
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Italian Rosé wine

Rosé

Summer in a glass, bright, delicate, endlessly drinkable

104 wines 17 denominations From £1.76
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Italian Sparkling wine

Sparkling

From Prosecco to Franciacorta, bubbles for every occasion

188 wines 10 denominations From £4.74
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Italian Sweet wine

Sweet

Liquid gold, Italy's dessert wines are among the world's finest

29 wines 6 denominations From £9.57
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Italian Orange wine

Orange

Ancient craft, modern obsession, skin-contact whites with soul

44 wines 2 denominations From £14.07
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Italian Wines to Explore

Browse by Grape

Falanghina

Falanghina (“fah-lawn -GHEE-nah”) is a white grape variety of Balkan origin, present in Southern Italy and in particular in Campania where it represents the base varietal of many fine wines.

Region Molise
Acidity
Body

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Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo (Nay-bee-OH-lo) is a native Italian variety cultivated in the northern regions, whose name derives from the word “Nebbia” which is Italian for fog.

Region Piedmont
Appellation Barolo DOCG
Tannin
Body

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Grillo

Widespread in western Sicily, the indigenous Grillo (GREE-loh) grape is a key component in the production of Marsala wines.

Region Sicily
Acidity
Body

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Sangiovese

Sangiovese (san-jo-vay-zeh) is the undisputed king of red wines in central Italy, virtually present in every area of the country Thanks to its many clones and surprising versatility, Sangiovese can create a wide range of wines: from young and fresh Chiantis to complex and full-bodied Brunellos.

Region Tuscany
Appellation Rubicone IGT
Tannin
Body

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Barbera

One of the most approachable red wines in Italy, Barbera (“bar-BAY-rah”) is a fresh and fruity wine that is always present on the tables of the inhabitants of Piedmont.

Region Piedmont
Tannin
Body

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Common Questions

Italy produces six distinct wine styles: red, white, rosé, sparkling, sweet, and orange. Each style has its own character, grape varieties, and food pairings. We currently list 3637 Italian wines across 115 denominations.

Red wines are made with dark-skinned grapes and fermented with their skins, giving them colour, tannin, and body. White wines use green-skinned grapes (or dark grapes without skin contact), producing lighter, crisper wines. Italy excels at both, from bold Barolo to crisp Pinot Grigio.

Orange wine is white wine made like red wine, the juice stays in contact with the grape skins for days or weeks, giving it an amber colour and a tannic, textured character. Italy, especially Friuli-Venezia Giulia, is one of the world's leading producers of orange wine.

White wines like Pinot Grigio and sparkling wines like Prosecco are approachable starting points, they're light, refreshing, and widely available. From there, try a medium-bodied red like Chianti or a rosé for something versatile.

Prosecco (sparkling) and Pinot Grigio (white) are the UK's best-selling Italian wines by volume. However, Italian reds, especially from Tuscany and Piedmont, are increasingly popular among wine enthusiasts looking for depth and food-pairing versatility.