There are endless varieties of white wine to choose from. From crisp, dry Sauvignon Blanc to semi-sweet Riesling, there is a delicious pairing for every palette and meal.
Italy is one of the best-known countries for wine production. Not only do they produce more wine than any other country in the world, including France, but the wine they make is also superb.
Wine from Italy is generally lighter with higher acidity and lower alcohol content, making it the perfect tasting beverage for casual drinking any time of day or night.
If you’re on the fence about trying Italian white wines, we’ve compiled a list of the best types of Italian white wines. Keep reading to learn more!
Campania
Campania is located in the southwestern part of Italy.
The region has a viticulture history thousands of years old, producing famous Italian whites like the Fiano di Avellino and the Greco di Tufo.
The Fiano di Avellino is made with the Fiano grape. This type of Italian white is fresh and full-bodied with notes of citrus, pear, and honey.
The Greco di Tufo white is a complex mixture of tropical fruit, citrus, apple, and pear with notes of fresh herbs and minerals. Both pair well with grilled seafood, shellfish, and pasta dishes.
Emilia Romagna
The Emilia Romagna region of northern Italy is known for producing some of the best white wines in the world.
The area is one of the oldest wine regions in Italy, with wine production dating back to the seventh century BC.
Emilia Romagna’s terroir is varied and complex. The combination of the Adriatic sea and the area’s rolling hills are responsible for creating light, fresh, slightly fruit white wines.
Two popular types of Italian white from this region include the Tenuta Neri Giovanni e Valeria, made with the Albana grape, and the Folicello Societa Agricola, made with the famous Trebbiano grape.
I generally prefer red wines, however, the white wine from Emilia Romagna is out of this world.
I highly recommend the La Stoppa Ageno 2019, which is a fresh and savory blend that goes well with charcuterie-style snacks.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
The northeastern corner of Italy is one of the best producers of white wine.
Sandwiched between the Adriatic Sea, Venice, and Austria, Friuli-Venezia Giulia consists of four main wine-making regions. Each has a unique flavor profile thanks to the varied environmental conditions.
The Friuli Grave region is known for its crisp Pinot Grigio and Prosecco. White wine from the Colli Orientali del Friuli region is heavy with stone fruit, white flowers, and crisp apples.
In the southern part of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Collio white wine is high in alcohol and acidity, with notes of pineapple, apricots, and roasted baking spices.
The nearby hilly Carso region is best known for its orange wines, which have a mix of sweet, spicy, and nutty flavors alongside soft tannins.
Lazio
Lazio white wines are produced in the central part of the country near Rome.
The area is home to volcanic hills and fertile soil with well-balanced acidity.
The cool breezes from the nearby Tyrrhenian Sea help temper the hot, dry conditions of this part of the country and produce a rich, strong grape.
Lazio wine is meant to be drunk immediately. They are made with a variety of grapes, including the Malvasia di Candia and the Trebbiano.
It is a light wine that helps cut through the richness of heavy meals, such as roasted lamb and pork.
Some popular Lazio wines include the Casal Pilozzo Colle Gaio and the Tenuta di Fiorano “Fiorano” Blanco.
Marche
White wine from Marche is made primarily with the Verdicchio, Malvasia, and Trebbiano grapes.
The region is surrounded by the Apennine Mountains and the Adriatic Sea, with rolling coastal hills, clay and limestone-rich soil, and a mix of warm and cool temperatures.
Wine characteristics from Marche vary, although they are generally fresh, fruity wines with powerful acidity. They are mostly light, easy-drinking wines.
I recommend popular white wines from Marche like the Bianchello del Metauro, the Verdicchio di Matelica, and the Oasi degli Angeli Kupra Rosso.
Soave
The Soave winemaking region is located in Northern Italy.
The wine here is rich with zesty citrus, melon, and peach flavors. They also have notes of honey, saline, marjoram, and marmalade.
The combination of these flavors creates light, crisp, and dry wines that have a slightly bitter and velvety finish.
The main grape in Soave is the Garganega. This grape is a thin-skinned vigorous grower that produces high yields.
It is also a low acid grape that can produce sweet, dry, and neutral wines that have a pale yellow color.
Trentino Alto Adige
White wine from Trentino Alto Adige is superb.
World-class Chardonnay, sparkling, and Pinot Grigio wines are produced throughout the region, combining Germanic and Italian grape varieties for a truly unique style of wine.
The region’s climate combines warm alpine temperatures, bright sunshine, and mineral-rich soil in a glacial valley.
The climate and grapes produce wine with peach and lemon flavors, as well as undertones of white flowers, bitter almonds, and sweet honey.
Umbria
Umbria produces incredible but underrated white wine. 13 different regions make up the “green heart of Italy,” with the most famous wines coming out of Torgiano, Montefalco, and Orvieto.
The Grechetto grape is a popular variety throughout the region, producing juicy, acidic, and fruity white wines.
White wine from Umbria has a unique combination of flavors. Depending on the vintage and specific region, these white wines include notes of strawberry, apple, and lemon—this style of wine pairs well with grilled pork, herbaceous lamb, and other meat-heavy dishes.
I recommend trying the Antinori, Santa Cristina “Campogrande” Orvieto Classico 2010 or the Novelli, Trebbiano Spoletino IGT 2011.
Veneto
Veneto is the Italian region that houses Verona and Venice.
It is primarily known for producing high-quality Pinot Grigio wines, but the region also has world-class Prosecco, Soave, Amarone, and Bardolino wines.
Veneto produces both red and white wine. The region’s white wines range from a buttery to straw-yellow color with a mix of floral and fruity flavors.
Lison wine from Veneto pairs well with seafood and poultry dishes, while Custoza is a dry white wine best served alongside grilled fish.
The versatile Garganega grape is Veneto’s most popular variety of grape. It is responsible for creating sparkling dessert wines that have honey, almond, and crisp apple flavors.
Piemonte
Piemonte is one of the top-ranking Italian wine production regions.
Located in the northwestern corner of the country, it consists of over 59 sub-regions.
There are more than a dozen varieties of grapes grown throughout the region, the most popular of which is the Moscato d’Asti.
Piemonte white wines are generally light-bodied wines with low alcohol content. They have a slight sweetness that pairs well with rustic, meat-based dishes.
One of the best Piemonte white wines is the Moscato Bianco. This sweet white has notes of pear, honeydew, and mandarin orange with an abundance of floral aromas.
Piemonte also grows a large number of oaky Chardonnays, juicy Arneis, and pepper Erbaluce.
The Timorasso white wine is another popular choice with a sweet, Riesling-like flavor profile and high acidity.
Sicilia
Few places are as magical and beautiful as the Mediterranean island of Sicily.
Sicily is home to stunning beaches, breathtaking cathedrals, and a plethora of mouthwatering cuisine that can’t be experienced anywhere else in the world.
Sicily is also a popular location for wine production. The region is made up of a variety of microclimates that produce incredible white wine grapes like the Carricante, Inzolia, Garganega, and Grillo.
Sicilian specialty wines include the almond-flavored Vino Alla mandorla, a popular dessert wine rich with citrus, spice, and amaretto-like flavors.
Etna Bianco is another popular Sicilian wine that has mineral notes, citrus, floral, and oak flavors. It pairs well with pasta and seafood dishes.
Alcamo white wine is another Sicilian specialty made with Catarratto grapes. It is a well-balanced, dry white wine that has a pretty light yellow color.
Traditionally, Alcamo wine consists of 60% Catarratto grape with varying mixtures of Chardonnay, Grillo, Ansonica, and Sauvignon grapes.
Toscana
Although most people think of red wine when they think of Tuscany, white wine from the Toscana region of Italy is some of the country’s best.
The region has a unique Mediterranean terroir that produces wine with moderate acidity and aromas.
No matter what bottle you end up with, sipping on a glass of white from Toscana allows you to experience a crisp, opulent wine with a distinctive flavor profile.
The main grapes used to produce the region’s white wine include Vernaccia, Viognier, and Chardonnay.
The popular Trebbiano grape is also used to create dry, citrusy wines that can be enjoyed alongside hard cheeses, roast chicken, pesto, and pasta with seafood.
White wine from Tuscano is my favorite. I recommend trying out the Valoroso Toscano White, Villa Graziella Toscano Bianco 2020, or the Matan White Wine.
Vin Santo
Vin Santo-style wines are historic wines that are also made in Tuscany.
Vin Santo is a sweet dessert wine that ranges in color from light gold to a deep reddish-brown.
It typically contains caramel and hazelnut notes with occasional honey, apricot, and tropical fruit undertones. Vin Santo wine is often served alongside biscotti as an after-dinner treat.
Vin Santo wine is made with a unique fermentation process unlike any other wine in the region. The harvested grapes are hung from the rafters to dry for months before being pressed into Caratelli barrels.
As the temperatures rise the barrels warm and the dried grapes ferment. The process takes up to 4 years and varies widely in final taste and alcohol content.