The Best Wineries in Italy

Chianti and Tuscany

Eight of the wineries lie in Tuscany, most of them in the Chianti hills. Antinori nel Chianti Classico at Bargino is built into a hillside and is known for Tignanello, and Castello di Verrazzano in Greve in Chianti makes Chianti Classico on hills above the valley. Tenuta Casanova and Poggio Amorelli are both family-run estates in Castellina in Chianti, and La Lastra works from a former monastery near Siena. De' Ricci Cantine Storiche has cellars cut into the tuff beneath Montepulciano, where it makes Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, while Tenuta Torciano near San Gimignano produces Chianti, Brunello and Vernaccia.

Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples

Cantina del Vesuvio at Trecase and Cantina Sorrentino at Boscotrecase both sit on the slopes of Vesuvius and grow their grapes in volcanic soil. Cantina del Vesuvio makes Lacryma Christi, and its visits end with a lunch overlooking the Bay of Naples. Cantina Sorrentino lies inside the Vesuvius National Park, and its tastings are usually paired with a lunch with the same view.

Sardinia, Etna and Lake Garda

Cantina Ligios is a small family-run winery in La Muddizza, near Valledoria in northwestern Sardinia, producing Vermentino, Cannonau, Syrah and grappa. Gambino Vini grows Nerello Mascalese and Carricante on the north slopes of Mount Etna near Linguaglossa. Ca' dei Frati in Sirmione on Lake Garda is known for its Lugana whites and for reds such as Amarone.