glass of white wine with grapes

Best White Italian Wines to Try

What people consider a good wine comes down to personal preference and opinion to a certain extent.  It may also depend on the occasion and what food you are eating to accompany the wine.  Italy produces wine from one end of the country to the other. Veneto is the region that produces the most wine, but Sicily boasts the largest wine region in terms of landmass.

In terms of Italian wines, Chianti immediately comes to mind, along with many other red wines.  However, Italy produces a wide variety of great white wines that can accompany many foods and are suitable for drinking on a variety of occasions. Italy is a very diverse country in terms of the climate and weather in different regions, so the wines produced in this country vary significantly. Here are some of the best white Italian wines that Italy has to offer.

Pinot Grigio: One of the Best Italian Wines to Accompany Poultry Dishes

One of the most popular white wines from Italy is Pinot Grigio.  It is made from one of Northern Italy’s most common grapes and is widely used to complement the cuisine.  The flavours of Pinot Grigio tend to be peach and orange.  This wine is light in colour and usually delicate and mild, although some producers make more full-bodied varieties. It is a good option for pairing with turkey and chicken.

Moscato

An excellent dessert wine from Italy is Moscato.  This is made commonly in the South, predominantly in the region of Piedmont. This wine usually has a floral aroma, and it is made using Moscato grapes, which is also the varietal for Asti Spumante.

Cortese

For those who prefer dry white wine, Cortese is an excellent choice.  Made from one of Italy’s rarer grapes in Northern Italy, this is one of Italy’s most unique and expensive wines. The flavours are crisp and light-bodied with tones of apple, and the best varieties also have overtones of honey. It is an excellent option to accompany pasta dishes, including those with basil, such as spaghetti with pesto.

Trebbiano

Trebbiano is an easy-drinking Italian wine, that is one of the most commonly produced wines in Italy. This grape variety is also known as Ugni blanc, St. Émilion, White Hermitage, or White Shiraz .It is usually pale in colour, and you can drink it alone or as a great accompaniment to salad or pasta dishes.  They are usually quite acidic wines, but increasingly, producers are adding sweetness to this variety of Italian white wine. There are multiple wines that use these grapes, and one of the most popular wines is orvieto. It is a light wine with a straw colour and hints of green in the light.  The taste and aroma are light, with a pleasant, bitter aftertaste.  This is a great wine to drink with most dishes and can be enjoyed on any occasion.

Soave

Soave is an Italian variety of white wine from Veneto that is one of the few wines that are best enjoyed new. This is quite a dry wine that is straw-coloured and has fruity flavours.  Enjoying this wine as an appetizer before or after a meal is best. Soave is a particularly good option to accompany seafood and pasta dishes.

Best Italian Wines- The Final Verdict

There are multiple Italian wines available, not just the ones on this list. Each has its own flavours and characteristics. Therefore, which is the best is down to personal preference. You can pair wines from Italy with many dishes, and each works well with different food depending on its most prominent flavours.

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like our simple guides to the best red wines for cooking and the best white wines for cooking.

Updated on 05/04/2024

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