So you’re in Italy. You sit down at a bar and see on the chalkboard an offering a calice di vino bianco or rosso. You want to order a glass of a wine made locally, or with a grape from that region, but don’t know where to start.

Italy has over 350 registered grape varieties suitable for winemaking and it’s very common for restaurants and bars to source local wines from wineries in the region. If you’re looking to learn a little bit more about local grapes and wines signature to each region, this guide is for you!

Below is comprehensive guide to alternative grapes and wines to try while in Italy. Believe me, there is so much more than Chianti!

Picking grapes for Amarone wine in Valpolicella.

Northern Italy

Piedmonte is known for Barolo and Barbaresco, but there are smaller family run wineries that are making incredible wines with the same popular grapes of the region (at a quarter of the price). While Veneto is home of Prosecco, there is so much more to try. Speaking of sparkling wine, have you had Franciacorta from Lombardy?

RED WINES

Nebbiolo - the main grape in wines from Barolo and Barbersco, high-acid and great for food pairing

Friesa - red grape (think strawberry in Italian) makes light-bodied, fresh wine

Barbera - widely planted grape, great aperitivo wine, simple with great value

Teroldego - planted in Northern Veneto, makes delicious full-bodied reds

WHITE WINES

Gavi - a region in Piedmonte made of Cortese grapes

Arneis - white wine and the name of the grape with high acidity, great with dinner

Prosecco -a region in Veneto, and the name of the style of wine - Glera is the grape

Central Italy

Emilia-Romagna has been stereotyped as the home of Lambrusco, did you know it also makes for great rosé? When you think of Tuscany, you think of Chianti, but have you heard of Canaiolo? If you’re in Rome, please order wine from Lazio!

RED WINES

Lambrusco - Lambrusco can be made into sparkling red and rosé wines, but rosé is my favorite a way better to pair with food

Ciliegiolo - Italian for "little cherry", makes bright, fun red wine

Cesanese - local grape to the Lazio region

Montepulciano - a region in Tuscany and a medium-bodied grape

Colorino + Canaiolo - often blended with Sangiovese because they are so intense, but make for great wines!

WHITE WINES

Pecorino - meaning sheep in Italian, this grape makes wine always available at aperitivo

Malvasia - aromatic white grape, try it in a sparkling wine

Vernaccia - notably made in San Gimignano

Verdicchio - the grape of Marche, dry, fresh, zippy and pairs well with most Italian dishes

Trebbiano - makes classic Italian white table wine

Southern Italy

In Sicily, Mt. Etna is the star and the volcanic soils make for incredible wines! I personally have never had a bad Sicilian wine. In Puglia, primativo is grown all over, but have you tried any other ancient varieties?

RED WINES

Susumaniello - an ancient grape variety from Puglia

Nero d'Avola - old, complex grape in the South of Italy

Frappato - light-bodied red, the Southern version of Friesa

Nerello Mascalese - grown on the slopes of Mt. Etna

WHITE WINES

Grillo - classic Southern white wine for great for aperitivo

Catarratto - also grown on the slopes of Mt. Etna, volcanic white wines are truly the best

Drinking Catarratto at a wine bar in Sicily

How to order a glass of wine in Italian

A little language goes a long way and being able to ask a few questions may help spark a conversation with the owner, in my experience they always want to help people discover new Italian wines.

I would like a glass of white wine.

"Vorrei un calice di vino bianco."

What is the specialty wine in this area?

Quali sono i vini tipici di questa regione?

Can you recommend your favorite wine?

Puoi consigliarmi il tuo vino preferito? or Qual è il tuo preferito?

Can we order two glass of wine for aperitivo?

Possiamo fare aperitivi con due calici di vino (bianco or rosso)

If you are intereted in learning more about alternative grapes and wine in Italy, check out the article I wrote for The Italy Edit on this very topic!

Alternative Grapes and Wines to Try in Italy

So you’re in Italy. You sit down at a bar and see on the chalkboard an offering a calice di vino bianco or rosso. You want to order a glass of a wine made locally, or with a grape from that region, but don’t know where to start.

Italy has over 350 registered grape varieties suitable for winemaking and it’s very common for restaurants and bars to source local wines from wineries in the region. If you’re looking to learn a little bit more about local grapes and wines signature to each region, this guide is for you!

Northern Italy

Central Italy

Emilia-Romagna has been stereotyped as the home of Lambrusco, did you know it also makes for great rosé? When you think of Tuscany, you think of Chianti, but have you heard of Canaiolo? If you’re in Rome, please order wine from Lazio!

Southern Italy

In Sicily, Mt. Etna is the star and the volcanic soils make for incredible wines! I personally have never had a bad Sicilian wine. In Puglia, primativo is grown all over, but have you tried any other ancient varieties?

How to order a glass of wine in Italian

A little language goes a long way and being able to ask a few questions may help spark a conversation with the owner, in my experience they always want to help people discover new Italian wines.

KAIKNA Podere Evolutivo

Marchesi di Ravarino