Italian white wine

Available in many styles, from light and crisp to rich and full-bodied, Italian white wine reflects the country’s deep winemaking heritage and varied wine regions.

Some of the most famous Italian white wines are Pinot Grigio, known for its light-bodied, refreshing qualities; Soave, known for its almond note and sometimes creamy texture; and Verdicchio, a high-acidity wine from the Marche region.

Other notable Italian white wines include Fiano and Greco di Tufo from Campania, which are often full-bodied and aromatic. And, of course, arguably the most famous of all is Prosecco, the bright and light sparkling wine from northern Italy.

Each wine has unique characteristics influenced by local grape varieties, climate and winemaking techniques, offering wine lovers a broad spectrum of flavours and styles to explore

Both native and international grape varieties are used to make Italian white wine, and typical native grapes include:

• Trebbiano – One of Italy’s most widely planted white grape varieties, it is often blended with other grapes to make light-bodied, crisp wines.
• Pinot Grigio – Known for producing easy-drinking light wines, particularly in the northeastern regions of Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Alto Adige.
• Friulano – A grape from the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, known for its rich body and almond notes.
• Glera – Native to the Veneto region, this is the key grape in Prosecco. It makes light-bodied, fresh and fruity wines with green apple, pear and floral notes.
• Garganega – The primary grape variety used to make Soave in Veneto.
• Verdicchio – This grape prefers the moderate maritime climate of Marche, where it produces citrusy wines with high acidity. There are often mineral and saline notes from the coastal influence.
• Grillo – Found mainly in Sicily’s hot, sunny climate, Grillo creates full-bodied, robust white wines with orchard fruit and herbal flavours.
• Vermentino – Predominantly grown in Sardinia and Liguria, producing refreshing, medium-bodied wines.
• Cortese – Cultivated in the cool hills of Piedmont, Cortese is famous for Gavi di Gavi. It produces wines with high acidity and flavours of green fruits and nuts.
• Fiano – A late-ripening grape from Campania in southern Italy, producing fuller-bodied, often aromatic wines with the potential to age.

Italy is home to numerous wine regions, many of which produce premium white wines.

• Veneto – This northeastern region is home to Soave, which is made primarily from the Garganega grape. It is also known for its crisp, light-bodied whites and Prosecco, a fruity and fresh sparkling wine produced from Glera grapes.
• Friuli-Venezia Giulia – Located at Italy’s northeastern edge, this region is noted for its pristine, single-varietal white wines. Pinot Grigio from here often has more substance and character than many examples of this grape, while local grapes such as Friulano and Ribolla Gialla create aromatic, flavourful wines.
• Alto Adige – This northern Alpine region’s cool climate helps preserve the acidity and aromatic of the Gewürztraminer and Pinot Grigio grapes grown here. Along with its high-quality Pinot Grigio, this region is known for its intensely aromatic Gewürztraminer and elegant Pinot Bianco.
• Piedmont – Although best known for its stylish reds, it also produces exceptional whites. Its famous whites are Arneis from Roero and Cortese from Gavi – both light, fresh white wines with floral notes and flavours of green fruits, pear and apricot.
• Campania – Despite its warm, southern location, Campania’s coastal influence and elevation help maintain the bright acidity in its white wines, typically made from native Fiano, Falanghina and Greco grapes.
• Sardinia – This island region is notable for Vermentino, which produces crisp, light whites.
• Marche – The eastern, coastal region of Marche is known for Verdicchio, producing both light, crisp styles and fuller-bodied, age-worthy ones. Each region’s climate, grape varieties and winemaking traditions contribute to the unique profiles of their white wines.

Italy is home to a varied range of white wines. Some of the best-known include:

• Pinot Grigio – A popular, easy-drinking white wine from the Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Alto Adige regions. Italian Pinot Grigio is typically light-bodied and dry, with a refreshingly crisp finish. It tends to be delicately fragrant and mildly floral with light lemon, pear and apple notes. Pinot Grigio wines from Alto Adige can have more body and a complex minerality.
• Prosecco – Italy’s famous sparkling wine is produced in Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia from the Glera grape. Prosecco is typically dry or off-dry with vibrant acidity, exhibiting fresh aromas of green apple, pear, white peach and apricot, often with subtle floral and almond notes.
• Soave – This light, dry white wine from Veneto is made primarily from the Garganega grape. It is known for its vibrant acidity with flavours and aromas of green apple, pear, yellow peach and distinct almond notes. Some Soave wines can also display mineral characteristics.
• Verdicchio – Named after the grape, these wines from Marche are often light to medium-bodied with high acidity and a slightly bitter finish. Aged bottles of Verdicchio develop more complex hints of honey over time.
• Fiano di Avellino – A fuller-bodied, often aromatic white wine from Campania, made from the Fiano grape.
• Greco di Tufo – Another Campanian white, made from Greco, producing full-bodied wines often with complex mineral and fruit flavours.
• Vermentino – A light, refreshing white wine primarily produced in Sardinia and Tuscany.
• Gavi – Produced in Piedmont from the Cortese grape, Gavi is a light to medium-bodied wine with high acidity and a firm, flinty minerality. It delivers subtle lime, lemon, green apple and floral notes, often with a characteristic hint of almond or fresh herbs.
• Arneis – A full-bodied, aromatic white wine from Roero in Piedmont.
• Franciacorta – An elegant sparkling wine from Lombardy, made in the traditional method from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Bianco.

Many of these white wines are typically consumed young and fresh, but some, like fine Soave and Verdicchio, may age and evolve fascinating complexities worth waiting for.

Italian white wine is a common and welcome sight on Italian dinner tables. Their range of flavours, acidity and body mean they are incredibly versatile and food-friendly. Here are some suggestions to try:

• Light, crisp whites such as Pinot Grigio or Soave often pair well with light dishes like seafood, salads or grilled chicken.
• Medium-bodied whites such as Verdicchio or Arneis can handle slightly richer dishes, including white fish with a cream sauce, risotto, pasta with pesto and roasted vegetable dishes.
• Full-bodied aromatic whites such as Fiano or Greco di Tufo can stand up to more robust dishes like grilled poultry, pork or even mildly spiced Asian dishes.
• Sparkling whites like Prosecco are highly versatile, pairing well with appetisers, cured meats, mild cheeses, fresh fruit and light, dairy-based desserts. It’s also popular to pair with savoury brunch dishes such as eggs benedict. Or you can simply enjoy it on its own as an aperitif.

Regional pairing can be a good guide – dishes from a certain region of Italy often pair well with wines from the same region. Food and wine pairings are all about experimentation, so don’t be afraid to try something new or unexpected.

Like many other white wines, Italian white wine is best served chilled.

Lighter white wines like Pinot Grigio and Soave are usually best served chilled, between 7-10°C. Richer, full-bodied whites like Fiano or aged wines such as Verdicchio can be served slightly warmer – aim for between 10-13°C.

If the white wine is aged, you may want to decant it shortly before serving. Although this is less common for white wines than for reds, it can help to enhance the aromas and flavours.

A standard white wine glass is the right choice for serving Italian white wine. The smaller bowl and taller sides are perfect for collecting those light, bright aromas. Serve sparkling Prosecco in a flute or tulip glass to preserve its bubbles and direct those delicious aromas straight to your nose.

Want to learn more about serving temperatures? Read our wine temperature serving guide.