Wine from Italy

Buy Italian Wine Online — Delivered to the UK

Vinissimus stocks over 400 Italian wines — from everyday Chianti and Prosecco to aged Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino. Browse by region, grape or style using the filters below, with delivery across the UK and £10 off your first order.

Italian wine regions

Italy produces wine in every one of its 20 regions. Four are the most useful starting points:

• Tuscany: home to Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, Bolgheri and the Super Tuscans — Sassicaia, Tignanello, Ornellaia. Italy's most recognised fine wine region.
• Piedmont: home to Barolo and Barbaresco, both made from Nebbiolo — powerful, structured reds built for long ageing. Also, the source of Barbera d'Asti, Moscato d'Asti and Franciacorta-adjacent sparkling wines from Alta Langa.
• Veneto: produces more wine than any other Italian region. Amarone della Valpolicella is its flagship — rich and concentrated, made from partially dried grapes. Also the source of Valpolicella Ripasso, Soave and Prosecco.
• Puglia: bold, ripe reds — mainly Primitivo and Negroamaro. Excellent value relative to Tuscany and Piedmont.

• Italian red wine

  Italian red wine ranges from light, fresh styles like young Valpolicella and Bardolino, through medium-bodied Chianti and Barbera, to some of the longest-lived reds in the world — Barolo, Brunello and Amarone. The three grapes most worth knowing: Nebbiolo, Sangiovese and Primitivo.

  Italian white wine

  Pinot Grigio is the most exported Italian white, but the more interesting bottles come from Campania — Fiano di Avellino, Greco di Tufo — from Friuli, from Soave in the Veneto, and from Sardinia's Vermentino. Barrel-aged white Burgundy lovers often find a natural home in Verdicchio or white Rioja-style whites from Friuli.

Italian sparkling wine

Three styles worth knowing:

• Prosecco: light and fresh, pear and floral notes, from the Veneto. The most widely drunk Italian sparkling wine.
• Franciacorta: from Lombardy, made using the same method as Champagne. More complex and aged than Prosecco, with better structure and depth.
• Asti Spumante: sweet and low-alcohol from Piedmont, made from Moscato Bianco. A different category — not a Champagne substitute but a style in its own right.

Italian wine classifications

Four quality tiers from lowest to highest:

• Vino da Tavola: table wine, no geographical indication
• IGT: broader regional indication — includes many Super Tuscans that deliberately sit outside DOC rules
• DOC: controlled designation of origin, with specific rules on grape varieties and production methods
• DOCG: the highest tier, strictest controls — includes Barolo, Brunello, Chianti Classico, Amarone and Franciacorta

FAQ

What is the best Italian red wine?

Depends on budget and style. For everyday drinking, a Chianti Classico or Barbera d'Asti offers reliable quality from £12–20. For special occasions, Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino are the benchmark — structured, age-worthy reds that rival the best in the world.

What is the difference between DOC and DOCG?

Both are controlled designations, but DOCG is the higher tier with stricter production rules and mandatory tasting approval before release. DOCG covers Italy's most prestigious wines — Barolo, Brunello, Chianti Classico and Amarone among them.

What Italian wine is similar to Malbec or Shiraz?

Primitivo from Puglia is the closest in style — full-bodied, dark fruit, warm spice, soft tannins. Nero d'Avola from Sicily is another option, slightly more structured with a Mediterranean earthiness.

Which Italian wines are good for beginners?

Prosecco for sparkling, Pinot Grigio or Soave for white, and Chianti or Valpolicella for red. All are approachable, widely available and a reliable starting point before moving into more complex styles.