From Pinot Grigio and Soave to Fiano, Vermentino and Etna Bianco: how they taste, what to eat with them and which bottle to buy first
Italian white wine is far more than Pinot Grigio. Discover the 15 best Italian whites, from Soave and Vermentino to Fiano and Etna Bianco. This guide covers how each one tastes, what to eat with it and which bottle to buy first.
In Italy, white wine is simply vino bianco, and almost every region makes its own. Some grapes, like Pinot Grigio, are famous worldwide; others, like Carricante or Ribolla Gialla, grow almost nowhere else. Most Italian whites are dry, fresh and made to go with food, but the range also includes rich, age-worthy whites, skin-contact orange wines, sparkling wines and some of the world's great dessert wines.
| Wine | Main grape | Region | Style | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinot Grigio | Pinot Grigio | Veneto, Friuli, Alto Adige | Light, crisp | $–$$ |
| Soave | Garganega | Veneto | Light to medium, almond | $–$$ |
| Vermentino | Vermentino | Sardinia, Liguria, Tuscany | Medium, herbal, saline | $–$$ |
| Verdicchio | Verdicchio | Marche | Medium, crisp, almond | $–$$ |
| Fiano di Avellino | Fiano | Campania | Medium to full, nutty | $$ |
| Greco di Tufo | Greco | Campania | Medium, mineral | $$ |
| Falanghina | Falanghina | Campania | Light to medium, floral | $ |
| Friulano | Friulano | Friuli | Medium, almond, herbal | $$ |
| Ribolla Gialla | Ribolla Gialla | Friuli | Light, citrus; also orange | $$ |
| Gavi | Cortese | Piedmont | Light, crisp, lemony | $–$$ |
| Roero Arneis | Arneis | Piedmont | Medium, pear, floral | $$ |
| Lugana | Turbiana | Lake Garda | Medium, creamy, citrus | $$ |
| Etna Bianco | Carricante | Sicily | Light to medium, volcanic | $$–$$$ |
| Grillo | Grillo | Sicily | Medium, citrus, tropical | $ |
| Vernaccia di San Gimignano | Vernaccia | Tuscany | Light to medium, bitter almond | $–$$ |
Price guide for typical US retail: $ under $20, $$ $20–40, $$$ over $40. Top single-vineyard and Riserva bottles cost more.
Pinot Grigio is the best-selling Italian white wine in the world, and the one most people try first. Most of it comes from the large Delle Venezie DOC covering Veneto, Friuli and Trentino: light, crisp and easy, with lemon and green apple. For more character, look north. Pinot Grigio from Alto Adige and from Friuli's Collio is fuller, with ripe pear, peach and a spicy, mineral finish. Friuli also makes ramato Pinot Grigio, copper-coloured from brief contact with the grape skins. Our Italian Pinot Grigio guide explains the styles.
Soave, from the hills east of Verona, is made mainly from Garganega. Simple Soave is light and pleasant; a good Soave Classico from the volcanic hills is something else, with almond, white flowers, citrus and a salty mineral finish. Look for Soave DOC Classico for everyday drinking and Soave Superiore DOCG or single-vineyard bottles for more depth. The same grape makes the sweet Recioto di Soave DOCG.
Vermentino is the white wine of Italy's western coast. In Sardinia it reaches its peak in Vermentino di Gallura DOCG, grown on granite soils in the island's northeast: full, aromatic and saline. Vermentino di Sardegna DOC is great value. Liguria and the Tuscan coast make fresher, more herbal versions. Expect citrus, white peach, Mediterranean herbs and a bitter-almond finish.
Verdicchio from the Marche is one of Italy's best-value whites and one of the longest-lived. Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC is fresh, with lemon, green apple, fennel and almond; the inland Verdicchio di Matelica DOC is sharper and more mineral. Riserva wines from both areas develop honey and nutty depth over ten years or more.
Fiano di Avellino DOCG, from the volcanic hills of Irpinia in Campania, is often called southern Italy's greatest white. Fiano gives a textured wine with pear, hazelnut, honey, white flowers and a smoky, mineral edge. Unusually for a white, good Fiano improves for five to ten years.
Greco di Tufo DOCG comes from the same part of Campania but tastes quite different: firmer, with high acidity, peach, citrus peel and a stony, almost salty finish. The Greco grape grows around the village of Tufo, an area historically known for sulphur mines.
Falanghina is Campania's easy-drinking white: fresh, floral and fruity, with citrus, apple and a light, crisp body. Falanghina del Sannio DOC, from the hills around Benevento, is the main source, and the wines are usually great value.
Friulano, called Tocai Friulano until 2007, is the signature white of Friuli. It has a soft, round texture with pear, almond, meadow herbs and a slightly bitter finish. The best come from Collio DOC and Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC. In Friuli it's the classic match for prosciutto di San Daniele.
Ribolla Gialla is an ancient grape of the hills on the Slovenian border. As a fresh white it is light, crisp and citrusy; as a sparkling wine it's a favourite Friulian aperitivo. It is also the grape behind some of the most famous Italian orange wines, macerated on the skins for weeks or months.
Gavi is Piedmont's best-known white, made from the Cortese grape in the province of Alessandria. Gavi DOCG is crisp and delicate, with lemon, green apple, white flowers and a mineral finish. Bottles labelled Gavi di Gavi come from the commune of Gavi itself.
Arneis, whose name means "little rascal" in the Piedmontese dialect, nearly disappeared before a few producers revived it in the 1970s and 1980s. Today Roero DOCG and Langhe Arneis DOC make medium-bodied whites with pear, apricot, white flowers and a soft, almond finish, a perfect counterpoint to the region's famous reds.
Lugana DOC comes from the southern shore of Lake Garda, between Lombardy and Veneto. Its grape, Turbiana, is genetically close to Verdicchio. Lugana is creamy yet fresh, with white peach, citrus and almond; Riserva and late-harvest versions gain richness. It's one of the best quality-for-price whites in northern Italy.
On the slopes of Sicily's active volcano, Carricante makes some of Italy's most exciting new whites. Etna DOC Bianco is taut and mineral, with lemon, green apple, aniseed and a salty, smoky finish; Superiore wines come from the eastern slopes around Milo. They age well, gaining a Riesling-like complexity. Our volcanic wines guide covers Etna and other volcanic areas.
Grillo is western Sicily's leading white grape. Under Sicilia DOC it makes fresh, aromatic whites with lemon, grapefruit, peach and a saline finish, usually at friendly prices. It is also the traditional grape of Marsala.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG comes from the medieval town of towers in Tuscany. It was the first Italian wine to receive DOC status, in 1966, and became a DOCG in 1993. It's crisp and dry, with citrus, green apple and the bitter-almond finish typical of many Italian whites.
Italian whites fall into a few broad styles:
If you like Sauvignon Blanc, try Vermentino, Verdicchio, Gavi or a Collio Sauvignon: all are crisp and zesty.
If you like Chardonnay, try Fiano di Avellino, Lugana or Soave Superiore for texture, or a Franciacorta if you enjoy Champagne.
If you like Riesling, try Etna Bianco, Timorasso or an aged Verdicchio Riserva.
If you like Pinot Grigio, move up to an Alto Adige or Collio Pinot Grigio, then try Friulano or Ribolla Gialla.
Best for beginners: a Soave Classico, a Vermentino di Sardegna or a Falanghina. They're easy to like, widely available and inexpensive. More ideas in Italian wines for beginners.
Best value under $20: Grillo, Falanghina, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, Soave Classico and Vermentino di Sardegna regularly offer more character than their price suggests. See also Italian wines under $20.
For special occasions: Fiano di Avellino, Etna Bianco Superiore, Verdicchio Riserva and top single-vineyard Soave.
Most Italian whites are best within one to three years of the vintage. The exceptions are Fiano, Greco, Verdicchio, Etna Bianco, Timorasso and Soave Superiore, which can improve for five to ten years.
More ideas in our seafood wine guide.
What is the most popular Italian white wine?
Pinot Grigio is the most popular Italian white wine internationally, and Italy's best-selling white export. Within Italy, Soave, Prosecco, Vermentino and many local whites are just as widely drunk.
What is Italian white wine called?
In Italian, white wine is vino bianco. On the label, most Italian whites are named after their grape (Pinot Grigio, Vermentino, Falanghina) or their place of origin (Soave, Gavi, Lugana, Orvieto).
What are the main types of Italian white wine?
Italian whites range from light and crisp (Pinot Grigio, Gavi) to medium and aromatic (Vermentino, Verdicchio), rich and age-worthy (Fiano, Etna Bianco), skin-contact orange wines, sparkling wines (Prosecco, Franciacorta) and sweet wines (Moscato d'Asti, passito).
What is the best Italian white wine?
Experts most often name Fiano di Avellino, Verdicchio Riserva, Etna Bianco, Soave Classico from top producers and Collio whites as Italy's finest. For everyday drinking, Vermentino, Falanghina and Grillo offer the best value.
Are Italian white wines dry or sweet?
The vast majority are dry. Sweet whites such as Moscato d'Asti, Passito di Pantelleria, Recioto di Soave and Vin Santo are a separate, smaller category.
What Italian white wine is best for cooking?
Use a dry, unoaked white you'd also drink: Pinot Grigio, Soave, Verdicchio or a simple Trebbiano work well in risotto, seafood sauces and braised chicken. Avoid sweet or heavily oaked wines.
What is the difference between Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris?
They're the same grape. "Pinot Grigio" usually signals the lighter, crisper Italian style, while "Pinot Gris" suggests the richer Alsace style. Pinot Grigio from Alto Adige and Collio sits in between.
Should Italian white wine be chilled?
Yes. Serve light whites at 7–10°C (45–50°F) and fuller whites such as Fiano, Lugana or Etna Bianco slightly warmer, at 10–13°C (50–55°F), so their aromas show.
Production rules and official information from the consortia of the wines in this guide: