Cavinona

Located just east of Lazio, the rural region of Abruzzo is east of Rome, along the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Abruzzo is known for being the “green heart” of the Mediterranean – this region has more nature than any other, and is considered the agrotourism capital of Italy. The Apennine Mountains form much of its interior, and the coastal plain has sandy beaches and dune systems. Abruzzo produces one DOCG – Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane – and three DOC wines: Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Controguerra and Trebbiano d'Abruzzo.

The region of Basilicata is the “instep” of Italy’s boot, embedded between Calabria and Puglia in southern Italy, alongside the Tyrrhenian Sea. The region is split into 2 provinces, Potenza and Matera. One of Italy’s less affluent regions, Basilicata is also one of its most starkly beautiful, filled with forests, lakes, and tiny villages. Basilicata produces only on DOC wine, the Aglianico del Vulture.

The “toe” of Italy, kicking Sicily into the Tyrrhenian, Calabria is situated in the extreme south of Italy. The warm climate, the beautiful colors of the Ionian and Tyrrhenian seas, and rocky coasts that alternate with sandy beaches- Calabria has a nature that is wild, mysterious and mesmerizing. Calabria produces 12 DOCs including Bivongi, Ciró, Greco di Bianco, Pollino and Verbicaro.

Campania is a region in southwestern Italy known for the ancient ruins of Pompeii, and the dramatic, resort-studded Amalfi coast. Both Pizza and Sophia Loren were born in Naples, the fascinating and chaotic regional capital. Possessing a striking natural setting between the iconic gray cone of Mt. Vesuvius and the deep blue waters of the Golfo di Napoli, Naples is a tourist’s dream. Campania produces one DOCG wine – Taurasi – and 19 DOCs including Aglianico del Taburno, Campi Flegrei, Cilento, Fiano di Avellino and Vesuvio.

Stretching across northern Italy, Emilia - Romagna is a wealthy region with the third-highest GDP per capita in Italy. The region includes Renaissance cities like Bologna, Ferrara, and Modena and arguably some of the best regional cuisine in Italy (Prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and balsamic vinegar of Modena all come from here). Emilia – Romagna produces one DOCG wine – Albana di Romagna – and 18 DOCs including three kinds of Lambrusco – di Sorbara, Grasparossa di Castelvetro and Salamino di Santa Croce – in addition to Sangiovese di Romagna, Colli Bolognesi Pignoletto and Bosco Eliceo.

This tiny region, all the way in Italy’s northeastern corner, borders Austria and Slovenia, overlooking the Adriatic sea. Despite its small size, Friuli has both seaside and mountains, since it’s home to the last section of the Alps. The mountain sceneries of the Eastern Dolomites are magnificent, and like the Aosta Valley it is an autonomous region, accounting for its unique cultural heritage. Friuli–Venezia Giulia wines are mostly white and remarkable for the number of varietals used in their blends. The region produces one DOCG wine – Ramandolo – and 9 DOCs including Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friuli Aquileia, Collio, and Lison-Pramaggiore.

Lazio is the most populated region of Italy, stretching from Central Italy to the Tyrrhenian Sea. Its principal city, Rome, is Italy’s capital and was at the heart of the ancient Roman Empire. Its iconic ruins include the Coliseum, and the Roman Forum. Independent state Vatican City, the seat of the Pope, stands in its own enclave within the capital. Lazio’s vine heritage is ancient, and produces 25 DOCs including Castelli Romani, Colli Albani, Montecompatri-Colonna, Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone and Velletri among others.

A narrow strip along the coast in northwestern Italy, Liguria is bordered by France, Piedmont, Tuscany, and Emilia - Romagna. This is the Italian Riviera, famous for its breathtaking cliffs, rocky seaside, and spectacular pastel villages. Tourists flock every year to the famous resort towns of Cinque Terre, Portofino, and Santa Margherita Ligure. 7 DOCs are produced in Liguria: Cinque Terre or Cinque Terre Schiacchetrà, Colli di Luni, Colline di Levanto, Golfo del Tigullio, Riviera Ligure di Ponente, Rossese di Dolceacqua or Dolceacqua and Val Polcevera.

Lombardia lies in the north of the country, sharing a border with Switzerland. Piedmonte and Valle D'Aosta border Lombardy to the west and the Veneto and Alto-Adige regions on the east. Stretching from the Alps to the lowlands of the Po Valley, Lombardia offers a vast array of landscapes, including the breathtaking mountain chain that boasts the Valchiavenna, Valtellina and the Camonica Valley. It is also home to Italy's celebrated lakes Maggiore, Como and Garda that lie at the foot of the Alps. Lombardy produces two DOCGs wines – Franciacorta and Valtellina Superiore – and 15 DOCs including Garda Classico, Oltrepó Pavese, Cellatica and Botticino.

Le Marche, an eastern Italian region, sits between the Apennine Mountains and the Adriatic Sea. Ancona, its capital, is a port city on the Riviera del Conero, known for sandy beaches, pebbled coves and limestone cliffs. One will find some of the most impressive mountain scenery to the south of the region amidst the Monti Sibillini, whose peaks are often covered with snow until the late spring, and The Frasassi caves are some of the most spectacular limestone caves one is ever likely to visit. Marche produces 12 DOCs including Bianchello del Metauro, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, Rosso Cònero, Lacrima di Morro or Lacrima di Morro d'Alba, and Falerio dei Colli Ascolani.

Molise is the youngest Italian region, established in 1963, when the region 'Abruzzi e Molise' was split into two regions. Molise is also Italy’s smallest, a narrow strip of hilly terrain covering less than 550 square miles. The region comprises the provinces of Campobasso, the regional capital, and Isernia. Forty percent of Molise is covered by Mountains, scored by the characteristic Tratturi, the historic trails created by seasonal migration of people and livestock that join the pastures of Abruzzo to those of Apulia. Molise produces only three DOC wines: Biferno, Molise or del Molise and Pentro di Isernia.

Piemonte is Italy's second largest region situated in the northwest, bordering Switzerland and France. Piemonte is a land of mountains, surrounded on three sides by the Alps, with the highest peaks and largest glaciers in Italy. Piemonte is the region that produces the largest number of best known, noble, and world-appreciated wines. Montferrat, one of the best known Italian wine districts in the world, was officially declared on 22 June 2014 a UNESCO World Heritage site. Piemonte produces seven DOCGs wines – Asti, Barbaresco, Barolo, Brachetto d'Acqui or Acqui, Gavi o Cortese di Gavi, Gattinara and Ghemme – and 44 DOCs including three Barbera – d'Alba, d'Asti and del Monferrato – 2 Freisa – d'Asti and di Chieri, 7 Dolcetto, Erbaluce di Caluso and Roero.

The “heel” of the boot of Italy, the southern region of Puglia is known for sunny days, whitewashed hill towns, centuries old farmland, and hundreds of miles of Mediterranean coastland. For centuries it was a strategic province, colonized, invaded and conquered by just about every major power of the day – from the Greeks through to the Spanish. Apulia economy is based mainly on wine production and counts 25 DOCs including Aleatico di Puglia, Cacc'e Mmitte di Lucera, Primitivo di Manduria, Salice Salentino and Rosso di Cerignola.

Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, a breathtaking, quixotic, and ancient land completely autonomous under the Italian constitution. Sardinia has been inhabited since the Neolithic Age, and today one can visit throughout the island the peculiar remains of the 'Tombs of the Giants'; and the 'Nuraghi', the fortified stone dwellings of the island’s earliest inhabitants. Sardinia produces one DOCG – Vermentino di Gallura – and 19 DOC wines including two Malvasia – di Bosa and di Cagliari – three Moscato – di Sorso-Sennori, di Cagliari and di Sardegna – Vernaccia di Oristano, Cannonau di Sardegna, Nuragus di Cagliari, Carignano del Sulcis, and Mandrolisai.

Sicily is the largest Italian region, separated from the toe of Italy by the Strait of Messina, and surrounded by the Ionian, Tyrrhenian, and the Mediterranean Seas. Its most prominent landmark is Mount Etna, the tallest volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world. Sicily has more vineyards than any of the other Italian regions, competing with Apulia for first place as Italy’s largest wine producer. Sicily produces 19 DOCs including four Moscato – di Noto Naturale or di Noto, di Pantelleria Naturale or di Pantelleria, di Passito di Pantelleria or Passito di Pantelleria and di Siracusa – Marsala, Cerasuolo di Vittoria, Malvasia delle Lipari and Sambuca di Sicilia.

Toscana is located in central Italy, and stretches from the Appenines to the Tyrrhenian Sea. At its center is timeless Florence; to the West is a chain of cities, Prato, Pistoia, Lucca, Pisa. Medieval villages, historical towns, castles and defense systems, country churches and beautiful abbeys are scattered all over the territory. Toscana produces seven DOCGs wines – Chianti which includes seven subzones, Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Carmignano, Vernaccia di San Gimignano and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano – and 44 DOCs including Bolgheri or Bolgheri Sassicaia, Valdichiana, Bianco della Valdinievole and Ansonica Costa dell'Argentario.

Trentino-Alto Adige is an autonomous region situated in Northeastern Italy, bordering Austria and Switzerland. Two provinces, Trentino and South Tyrol, comprise the region, amongst the wealthiest and most developed in both Italy and the whole European Union. There are two official languages of the region, Italian and German, and the capital of Alto-Adige is a testament to the region’s duality. One of the smallest wine growing areas in Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige produces 8 DOCs including Alto Adige or Südtirol which has six subzones, Valdadige or Etschtaler, Teroldego Rotaliano, and Lago di Caldaro o Caldaro.

Umbria is the 'Greenheart' of Italy, a region in the heart of the boot in central Italy epitomized by undulating, endless green hills and valleys, cypress forests, and small medieval towns, bordered by neither sea or international borders. It is divided into two provinces, Perugia and Terni. The birthplace of some of Catholicism’s most important Saints (St. Francis of Assissi, St. Clare, Saint Benedict and Saint Rita), Umbria also flourished during the Renaissance. Umbria produces two DOCGs wines – Montefalco Sagrantino and Torgiano Rosso Riserva – and 11 DOCs including Rosso Orvietano or Orvietano Rosso, Colli del Trasimeno or Trasimeno, Assisi, and Colli Altotiberini.

Tucked in between France, Switzerland, and Piedmont, Aosta Valley is the smallest region in Italy, tucked all the way up in the country’s northwest corner. Home to the highest sanctuary in Europe, Notre-Dame-des-Neiges, The Alps run right through this tiny region, including Mont Blanc, shared with France, and the Matterhorn, shared with Switzerland. The region has a single DOC denomination that covers a total of 25 styles of wine, both varietals, such as the Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, and seven geographically designed sub-zones: Arnad-Motjovet, Arvier, Chambave, Donnas, Mergex / La Salle, Nus, and Torrette.

Veneto is situated in Italy’s Northeast , extending from the Dolomite mountains to the Adriatic Sea, synonymous with the iconic and galavanizing city of Venice, the region’s lagoon capital. Famed for Marble palaces, the Basilica San Marco, and gondelieries that serenade their passengers along the Grand Canal snaking its way throughout the city’s mazelike alleys and piazzas, no visit to the Veneto region is complete without a trip to Venice. Veneto produces two DOCGs wines – Recioto di Soave and Bardolino – and 11 DOCs including Soave, Valpolicella o Recioto della Valpolicella, Lessini Durello, Bianco di Custoza and Prosecco di Conegliano Valdobbiadene.