A simple flow chart outlines nearly 50 different red wines by taste, plus has a list of the top 8 Italian red wines to know. Find what Italian red to try next in a useful and relatable way. There are hundreds of wine grape varieties from Italy and very few of these varieties grow outside of Italy. So, don’t worry, you’re not the only person who thinks getting into Italian wines is challenging! Here are a few tips to give you a head start on mastering Italian reds: Try The 8 Main Italian Reds: Taste Italy with just 8 major Italian red wines (see list below) Fruit vs Earth: Italian red wines tend to be fruitier in the South and more earthy when from the North. Decant Italian Reds: It’s a great idea to decant all Italian red wines before drinking. See white background version here. Flow Chart of Italian Red Wines

Nebbiolo-based wines comes from Northwest Italy in Piedmont.

photo by Brett Jones Drink By: Typically best after 4-7 years, although fine examples last longer. 173,000 Acres – All of Italy – Italy’s champion red variety, Sangiovese, goes by many names. You’ve probably heard of a few of them: This grape grows all over Italy and because of this, you’ll notice that Sangiovese wines vary widely from one region to the next. In Tuscany, you can find very earthy Sangiovese wines with black cherry notes and bold tannins, and in Southern Italy, around Campania, you can find lighter Sangiovese wines tasting of strawberries and roses with medium tannins. Drink By: Typically best after 4-7 years of vintage, although fine examples last longer. 75,000 Acres – Central Italy – Even though Montepulciano is Italy’s second most planted grape, many have never heard of it. Montepulciano grows in Central Italy and can be found under a few common names as well: Montepulciano is deeply colored, similar to Syrah, and with very bold tannins, although some producers will blend it with other grapes to round out the flavor.

Supposedly, there are less than 100 acres of this grape growing outside of Italy. Drink By: Typically best within the first 3 years. 70,000 Acres – Piedmont – Barbera is the most produced Italian red wine of Piedmont. Over 60% of the world’s Barbera vineyards exist in the region. Barbera almost always has a unique note of licorice in the taste, which is what makes it so unique. While American Barbera can be quite fruit-forward, Italian Barbera is often herbaceous with juicy acidity and tart black cherry flavors. Drink By: Typically in 5-7 years, although fine examples last longer. 47,000 Acres – Sicily – A bold but fruit-forward variety hailing almost exclusively from Sicily. Nero d’Avola can, at times, be surprisingly similar in style to Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon. 60,000 Acres – Puglia – Primitivo is Italy’s name for Zinfandel (which is actually a Croatian grape called Tribidrag!) and Negroamaro grows alongside it in Southern Italy. These sweet tasting fruity and lighter bodied Italian wines often exhibit strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, and leather notes.

Primitivo provides the fruity punch and Negroamaro has more dark fruit flavors and structure. It’s common to find them blended together. Drink By: Varies by style of Valpolicella. 22,000 Acres – Veneto – Varies on Style. best red wine from 2010A blend of Corvina, Molinara, and Rondinella. wine mag best buys 2015This signature blend of grapes makes everything from Veneto’s tart and simple Valpolicella Classico to the highly prized Amarone wines –a wine made by partially dehydrating Valpolicella grapes to increase the intensity of the resulting wine. best wine price in indiaCheck out this article on Valpolicella wines with a hierarchy of the styles.best wines in texas

Drink By: Typically within the first 3 years. 18,000 Acres – Piedmont – A deeply colored red wine with high tannins but lower acidity. Dolcetto is one of the easiest wines to drink immediately instead of after several years of cellaring. french wine uk deliveryThis wine is made mostly in Piedmont, although it grows in Lombardy too. best italian wine cheapIt can commonly be found by these names:best english rose wine Drink By: Typically best after 7-10 years.best wine flavours 12,000 Acres – Piedmont – Piedmont’s most well respected red wine is actually quite tiny in terms of how much exists in the world. best wine with a new york strip

Just so you have a relative comparison, there are nearly 50 times more Cabernet Sauvignon grapes planted in the world than Nebbiolo. Nebbiolo has many regional names and styles: Nebbiolo from the hotter growing areas can be very bold, tannic, and long-lived, as is the case with Barolo. In the north, as with Ghemme and Gattinara, Nebbiolo can be quite delicate and tart in taste, smelling of roses and bing cherries. Map of Italian Wine Regions How to: Italian Wine Labels Reading Italian Wine Lists Statistics are from the 2000 Italian Agriculture census found in the Wine Grapes book.Food & DrinkDrinksWineMajor Italian Red Wines Major Italian Red Wines Italian red wines bring up the image of grape-stomping parties that provide fun for the whole village. Fortunately, you don’t have to press the grapes yourself to enjoy a bottle of good Italian red wine. The major reds are described in the following list: Amarone: Lusty, full-bodied wine from partially-dried Corvina grapes, in the Veneto region.

Dry and firm wine, but its ripe, concentrated fruitiness suggests sweetness. Needs rich, savory foods or flavorful cheeses. Barbaresco: Similar to Barolo, from the same grape in a nearby area, but generally a tad lighter in body and slightly more approachable. Drinks best at 8 to 15 years of age, depending on the producer. Barbera: Varietal wine produced mainly in the Piedmont region. Dry, light- or medium-bodied, with intense berry flavor, mouth-watering acidity, and little tannin. Particularly versatile with food. Many of the best wines are from the Alba or Asti zones. Barolo: Dry, full-bodied, magisterial wine from Nebbiolo grapes in the Barolo area of Piedmont. Has complex aromas and flavors of strawberries, tar, herbs, and earth, as well as a firm, tannic structure. Drinks best at 10 to 20 years of age, depending on the producer. Brunello di Montalcino: Full-bodied, intense, concentrated wine from Sangiovese grapes grown in the Montalcino zone of Tuscany. Dry and quite tannic, it drinks best when it’s at least 15 years old.

Chianti: Very dry, medium-bodied, moderately tannic wine with lovely tart-cherry flavor, mainly from Sangiovese grapes grown in the Chianti area of Tuscany. “Chianti Classico” is often the best. Some wines are good young; wines labeled riserva, and pricier wines, are generally more concentrated and age-worthy. Lambrusco: Most commonly a sweet, fizzy wine with delicious, grapey flavors. Made from Lambrusco grapes usually in the Emilia-Romagna region. Dry and sparkling styles also exist. Montepulciano d’Abruzzo: Generally medium-bodied and flavorful with red fruits and a slightly vegetal note. Lighter examples are smooth and easy to drink; the best wines are concentrated and denser in texture. From the Montepulciano grape, in the Abruzzo region. Salice Salentino: Dry, full-bodied wine from Negroamaro grapes in part of the Puglia region. Generally has somewhat intense aromas and flavors of ripe, plummy, baked fruit, and rich, dense texture. Suitable with robust foods.