Umbria

Bordering on Tuscany and right above Rome, Umbria has as a capital Perugia. The city is famous for its University and chocolates, thanks to Perugina/Baci brand! Another famous city is certainly Assisi. The Franciscan structures of Assisi have been selected as a World Heritage Site in 2000.
The region is also named the Green Heart of Italy. Umbrian agriculture is noted for its tobacco, olive oil, black truffles (45% of Italian production in Valnerina) and vineyards.
The notable wines are the crisp, dry white wine Grechetto and the antioxidant-rich reds of Sagrantino, a deep coloured, recognized as the world’s most tannic red wine!

Arnaldo Caprai

The family operation began in 1971 when textiles entrepreneur Arnaldo Caprai purchased a 5ha vineyard, Val di Maggio, in Montefalco. In 1988, management passed on to Arnaldo’s son, Marco.
Today, the estate extends for around 150 hectares, 136 of which are currently in production.
The winery is the leading producer of top quality Sagrantino di Montefalco, a 100% Sagrantino wine. The Grape is recognized to have the highest level of Polyphenols and Tannins compared to any other variety in the world.
Marco, who dedicated himself to develop & promote this unique variety growing in the Montefalco region for more than 400 years, is recognized in Italy and in the world as one of the top Italian producers.

Argentina

Argentina is one of the major wine countries in the world.

Out of all of the wines that Argentina produces, it is perhaps best known for creating outstanding Malbecs. They are representing almost half of red varieties cultivated area in the country.

The most highly rated Malbec wines originate from Mendoza. They are located in the foothills of the Andes mountains between 850 and 1,520 m.

A Malbec is a wine that is known for having a strong and fruity flavor and a very smooth texture and finish. It is allowing to enjoy an exciting flavor that is delightful to drink. It is a rich and dark wine that some say has a flavor that can be compared to a plum.

Achaval Ferrer

Founded in 1998, Achaval Ferrer has become one of the best producers of Argentinean wines from the Mendoza mountains.

It is a small winery – 54 hectares – focused quality.

Low yields allow the vineyards to express their personality in the grapes.

Low intervention winemaking allows the grapes to fully express their vineyard in the bottle.

The outstanding reputation came from their Fincas, single Malbec vineyards.

The vines range in age from 70 to over 110 years old and are un-grafted. Aged for 15 months in new French oak barrels.

The Fincas have their own unique personalities and profiles. However, they are united by the common threads of rich, dark berry fruit flavors and aromas. Hints of espresso and leather and lifted with floral notes and noticeable minerality.

Piedmont

Located, as its name suggests, at the foot of the Alps bordering France and Switzerland, Piedmont is the second largest of Italy’s 20 regions, after Sicily.

Recognized for its industry like Fiat in Turin, Piedmont is also one of the greatest regions in the world in terms of cuisine (don’t forget the white truffles from Alba!) and wine!

With 46 DOC and 4 DOCG, Piedmont has more wine appellations than any other Italian region.

Braida

Braida has been created in 1961 by Giacomo Bologna. He has been recognized as the first winemaker to raise the quality from a traditional table Barbera to a fine wine.

In 1982, Braida launched Bricco dell’ Uccellone, a “Super Barbera”.

The wines were aged in small, French oak barrels in order to compensate for Barbera’s lack of tannins. The result was a deeply flavourful, complex wine out of a variety normally considered to be an acidic filler.

Now, the children, Raffaella and Giuseppe, run the wine estate. They have made Braida one of the most respected wineries in Piedmont.

Marche

Located in central Italy, the region enjoys a very varied landscape going from mountains through hills to beautiful beaches, towering cliffs and clear blue waters.

Marche is best known as a white wine region, although it is also home to some reds of very high quality.

It has been the territory of the Verdicchio grape for more than 600 years. The wines are characterized by lively acidity and subtle herbaceous undertones.

Among the red wines of Marche, the finest are generally made from the Montepulciano grape and/or Sangiovese. The best DOCG is the intensely fragrant Rosso Conero Riserva.

Umani Ronchi

Umani Ronchi is a wine estate in Marche and Abruzzo producing Verdicchio, Montepulciano and others since 1957.

The Estate has a total surface area under vine of 210 hectares nestling between the hills and the sea along the Adriatic coast.

All the vineyards are farmed organically. For the winery, this was a technical decision rather than an ideological one.

In Italy, Umani Ronchi has been recognized “best winery of the Year” 2024.

In Asia, Jorio made its fame thanks to the manga “The Drops of God” by Gambero Rosso.

Aosta Valley

Surrounded by Piedmont in the south and east, French Alps in the west, Swiss Valais in the north, Aosta Valley is the smallest, least populous, and least densely populated region of Italy.
The region is renowned for the quality of its local salamis and meats giving rise to specialities such as carbonada, a dish composed of stewed meat wine, onions and spices. The cheeses are equally famous.
Home to Europe’s highest elevated vineyards, Valle d’Aosta is Italy’s smallest winemaking region both in terms of size and production.
Claiming an impressive list of autochthonous varieties, the region has also many grapes from France. Not surprisingly, wine labels are often written in Italian and French.

Les Crêtes

Founded in 1989 by Costantino Charrere, Les Cretes is one of only a few private wineries in the Valle D’Aosta. The winery is located in Aymavilles.

It currently manages 25 hectares of vineyards in six villages. The production is about 220,000 bottles per year.

Les Crêtes produces its wines in a very specific context, characterized by high mountains, sandy slopes and alpine temperatures.

Les Crêtes vineyards are planted in both indigenous vinifera varieties (Petite Arvine, Petit Rouge, Fumin), as well as the more traditional varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Muscat). Their Chardonnay has been awarded best white in Italy by Gambero Rosso in 2009.

Tuscany

Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history and artistic legacy. As the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, the region has an incredible art and architecture heritage.

Tuscany is certainly the most famous of all Italian regions for its wines. Sangiovese reigns in all its forms in the vineyards of Chianti but also Montepulciano and Montalcino.

It is also the land of the Super Tuscan, the Bordeaux blend style that laid the foundation of some of the greatest Italian wines.

As a pairing with these wines, Tuscany cuisine is based on simplicity but high quality and certainly topped with Tuscan olive oil, recognized all over the world.

Rocca delle Macìe

Rocca delle Macìe was established in 1973 by Italo Zingarelli, the film producer of the highly successful series of films starring Bud Spencer and Terence Hill.

At the time, he purchased “Le Macìe” estate – 93 hectares, of which only two are planted with vines – in order to establish a winery in the heart of the Chianti Classico region.

Italo passed on his love and passion for the Tuscan land to his three children. In 1985, Sergio started working with his father.

In 1989, with the help of his wife Daniela, he took over the management of the company. Since then, Sergio, in collaboration with his sister Sandra, has consolidated and developed his father’s company.

Today, the winery has about 500 hectares. 200 are planted with vines and about 22 with olive trees, divided between six estates.

Lombardy

Lombardy is the most populous, richest and most productive region in the country. 16.2% of the national population (10 million people) live there and create 21% of the total GDP.

The region is an important producer of wines but not really well recognized except Franciacorta, the Italy’s most prestigious sparkling wines.

If Italy is known for its spaghettis, Rice is very popular in the region, often found in soups as well as risotti, such as “risotto alla milanese”, with saffron. Butter is used, no olive oil!

The region is famous for its historical figures such as Virgil, Pliny the Elder, Caravaggio, Claudio Monteverdi, Antonio Stradivari, Alessandro Volta and popes John XXIII and Paul VI.

Berlucchi

Berlucchi is the history of the classic Italian sparkling wine and Franciacorta.

“What if we make a French-style sparkling wine?” This was the question that young oenologist Franco Ziliani asked Guido Berlucchi at the end of the 1950s.

Guido Berlucchi liked the idea to use his not too stable white wine.

After a few experiments, almost 3,000 bottles arrived in 1961. “We’ll be drinking them for the next 20 years!” Fortunately, he was wrong.

Today, Guido Berlucchi means 4 million Franciacorta bottles every year. More than 12 million bottles rest in the cellar.

Berlucchi has received many awards like “Winery of the Year” by Gambero Rosso in 2022.

Friuli Venezia Giulia

The region is situated in Italy’s northeast and borders Slovenia and Austria.

Friuli Venezia Giulia overlooks the Adriatic Sea and is surrounded by high mountains, enclosing many different landscapes.

The cooking traditions are influenced by the Slavic, central European and Venetian cultures. The cuisine relies on simple recipes and genuine ingredients.

The most important typical product of the region is Prosciutto of San Daniele.

Other typical dishes of the area are polenta or “porcina”.

The dishes of the area are accompanied by red but mainly white wines. Can mention Refosco, Malvasia, Friulano, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and Ribolla.

Venica & Venica

Venica & Venica has been established in 1930. It is still a family-owned estate with 28 hectares of vines in Collio, near the Slovenian border.

Today the winery is one of Friuli’s most famous and respected estates. It is well-known for making highly textural and aromatic whites that use little to no wood.

Venica & Venica’s vineyards are spread over 7 different hills. They are located from 300-400 meters above sea level — each with its own distinct micro-climate.

This great terroir provides unique characteristics to each of the vines and creates a wine of great complexity.

Sicily

The largest Mediterranean island, separated from the Italian peninsula by the very narrow Messina strait, Sicily is probably among the richest regions in history, art and cultural heritage, a mosaic of colours and contrasts.

According to legend, it was Dionysus (Bacchus) who brought pleasure to mankind, and wine to Sicily.

In the past, Sicily was famous for its Marsala and cheap bulk wines. Over the last 30 years, however, Sicily’s wine culture has changed dramatically and is now considered as one of the best regions.

The Sicilian has the largest vineyard in all of Italy. It is three times the size of the vineyard in New Zealand, larger than vineyard in South Africa and equivalent to the vineyard in Germany.

Donnafugata

Established in 1983 by Giacomo Rallo, the winery is now led by José and Antonio.

Donnafugata boasts vineyards in Contessa Entellina, nestled in the heart of western Sicily, as well as on Pantelleria island, situated between Sicily and Africa.

The 2016 harvest marked a milestone for Donnafugata, fulfilling the aspiration to produce wines in eastern Sicily with the distinguished Etna, Cerasuolo, and Frappato di Vittoria appellations.

The name Donnafugata, meaning ‘lady in flight,’ originates from the novel ‘Il Gattopardo’ and alludes to the tale of a queen who sought sanctuary in what are now the company’s vineyards, a narrative that also inspired the company’s logo.

Veneto

The Veneto, located in the north-east of Italy, is about five million population, ranking fifth in Italy. The tourists are very attracted by the capital, Venice but also Verona, the hometown of Giulietta!
It is also a region that contributes a significant percentage of the country’s total wine industry. With now 14 DOCGS & 24 DOCs, Veneto is producing every style of wine and with great success.
Soave, Valpolicella and Bardolino, Amarone, are produced there. The super trendy sparkling wine Prosecco has its origins and its best expression in the Veneto.
Much of Italy’s Pinot grigio hails from the Veneto, where the crisp and refreshing style is easy to maintain.

Inama

The winery was established in 1967 by Giuseppe Inama.  At the time, he began to purchase small plots of vineyards in the heart of the Soave Classico and as a result, the Inama winery today owns most of the vineyards on the prestigious Mount Foscarino.

Today the winery is run by the 3rd generation, pushing up the quality of the Soave and developing their other project in Colli Berici.  Here, mineral-rich terra rossa soils (red clay over limestone) and a hot, dry climate make ideal conditions for growing red grapes, in particular Carmenere.