Italy’s love affair with wine spans millennia, with its sun-soaked vineyards producing some of the most celebrated varietals in the world. From Northern Italy to its sun-soaked isles, the country offers a dazzling array of flavors, aromas, and traditions. When you explore with Collette, your journey through Italy’s renowned wine regions becomes much more than a tasting tour — it’s an immersion into culture, history, and the Italian way of life.

Ready for a primer on Italy’s wine regions? Let’s dive in.

The Wines of Central Italy

Central Italy is a haven for those who dream of charming hilltop towns, ancient olive groves, and world-renowned wines. Stretching from Tuscany to Umbria and into Lazio, this region is the heart of Italian winemaking. Tuscany is home to the celebrated Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wines. These bold reds owe their complexity to the region’s native Sangiovese grape, which thrives in the area’s fertile soil and sunny climate.

Meanwhile, Umbria produces hidden gems like Sagrantino di Montefalco, a rare varietal known for its full-bodied intensity. Lazio, often overshadowed by its neighbors, surprises visitors with refreshing white wines like Frascati, a favorite of ancient Romans.

Taste it on Tour

On Italy's Treasures: Art, Food & Wine of Italy, spend four nights at a Tuscan villa, where you can savor local wines like Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino. The tour also includes a hands-on cooking class, an off-roading excursion into the Carrara marble quarries, and a tasting at a family-owned wine shop.

The Wines of Northern Italy

Northern Italy boasts an incredibly diverse terroir, producing everything from crisp whites to sparkling wines and powerful reds. The Veneto region is synonymous with Prosecco, Italy’s beloved sparkling wine, which delights with its light, fruity profile. Piedmont, nestled at the base of the Alps, is home to the prestigious Barolo and Barbaresco wines, crafted from the Nebbiolo grape. These wines are celebrated for their boldness, complexity, and aging potential.

Trentino-Alto Adige, with its Alpine climate, offers aromatic whites like Gewürztraminer and Pinot Grigio, while Friuli Venezia Giulia impresses with rich white wines like Friulano and creamy dessert wines.

Taste it on Tour

Travel with a small group and taste some of Northern Italy’s famous wine on Collette’s The Best of Italy tour. Spend three nights nestled among vineyards at the Borgo Conde Wine Resort in the Romagna Countryside — plus explore the canals of Venice, take a cooking class dedicated to Romagna’s garganelli and strozzapreti pastas, and more.

The Wines of Southern Italy

Southern Italy’s warm, sun-drenched climate is a paradise for robust and flavorful wines. Campania, Basilicata, Puglia, and Calabria are home to a wealth of ancient varietals that have been cultivated for centuries. Campania’s volcanic soil gives rise to unique wines like Falanghina, Fiano di Avellino, and the iconic Taurasi, often called the “Barolo of the South.”

Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot, is known for its full-bodied reds like Primitivo and Negroamaro, while Calabria’s rugged terrain produces Gaglioppo-based wines with bold, earthy flavors.

Taste it on Tour

For a taste of Southern Italy’s delicious wines, check out our tour, Southern Italy & Sicily, where you can indulge in a cellar tour and tasting at a winery in Matera, taste fresh-made mozzarella during a visit to a local dairy farm near Sorrento, and set sail along the Amalfi Coast.

The Wines of Sicily

Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, boasts a winemaking heritage as bold and dramatic as its landscapes. With its volcanic soils, coastal breezes, and abundant sunshine, Sicily produces wines that are complex and unique. The star varietal here is Nero d’Avola, a red wine with rich, dark fruit flavors and a hint of spice.

Etna wines, grown on the slopes of the active volcano, have gained international acclaim for their minerality and elegance. Sicily is also celebrated for its Marsala, a fortified wine that has been a staple of Italian households for centuries.

Taste it on Tour

Ready to experience Sicily’s unique flavors? Collette’s small group Explorations tour, Sicily and Its Isles, may be just the thing you’re looking for. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to taste the island’s incredible wines, plus a visit to a local caper farm, an off-roading adventure at Mount Etna, and a chance to visit the Valley of the Temples with an expert guide.

Experience Italy’s Wine Region’s on a Guided Tour with Collette

Italy’s wine regions are as diverse and enchanting as the country itself, each offering its own unique flavors, traditions, and stories. With Collette, you’ll have the chance to uncork the magic of Italian wine, exploring the vineyards, learning the craft, and indulging in the culinary wonders that make each region unforgettable. Whether you’re a wine enthusiast or just enjoy the occasional glass, this experience promises to be a feast for the senses and a toast to la dolce vita. Cheers!