Italian White Wines
When most people think "Italian wine," red comes to mind first - Chianti, Barolo, Amarone. But spend time in Italy, and you quickly realise that the country's white wines are just as remarkable, arguably more diverse, and criminally underappreciated outside of their home regions. This collection is our attempt to change that.
Why Italian White Wine Deserves More Attention
Italy has more indigenous grape varieties than any other country - and many of the most exciting produce white Italian wine. Vermentino thrives along the Mediterranean coast, delivering saline, herbal freshness in wines like the Mora & Memo Vermentino di Sardegna 2024 and the San Marzano Timo Vermentino 2024. Verdicchio, from the Marche on Italy's Adriatic coast, produces whites of remarkable mineral complexity - the Zaccagnini Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore 2023 is a wine that punches well above its weight.
Then there is Gavi - Piedmont's answer to Burgundian Chardonnay - made from the Cortese grape and offering Italian white wines with a precision and elegance that surprises anyone expecting something simple. The Olim Bauda Gavi del Comune di Gavi 2024 is a standout, with stone-fruit delicacy and a long, mineral-tinged finish.
Italian White Wine Grapes Worth Knowing
Part of the joy of exploring Italian white wine grapes is encountering names you have never heard of and discovering they produce extraordinary wine. Here are some of the varieties in our collection:
- Cortese - the grape behind Gavi, delivering crisp citrus, white peach, and almond notes
- Vermentino - Mediterranean freshness with herbal, saline, and citrus character
- Verdicchio - mineral-driven with green apple, camomile, and a savoury, almost nutty finish
- Zibibbo - the Sicilian name for Muscat of Alexandria, producing aromatic, exotic whites like our Cantina Colomba Bianca Vitese Zibibbo 2023
- Pinot Grigio - Italy's most exported white, represented in our range by the Ke Bonta Pinot Grigio 2024
Food Pairings for Dry White Wine from Italy
The natural acidity and savoury character of dry white wine from Italy makes these bottles outstanding at the table. Italian whites are built for food in a way that many New World styles are not - they have the backbone to match bold Mediterranean flavours:
- Linguine alle vongole (clam pasta) with Vermentino - the wine's saline quality mirrors the sea
- Risotto with courgette flowers alongside Gavi - delicate dish, delicate wine, perfect harmony
- Fried calamari with a squeeze of lemon and Verdicchio - crisp acidity mirrors the citrus
- Burrata with roasted tomatoes and basil alongside Zibibbo - the wine's aromatics lift the dish
Explore our wider Italian wines range, or discover more whites in our white wines collection. We taste everything before it reaches the shelf - so every bottle here has earned its place.
Nebbiolo, Barbera, Cortese - the grapes of Piedmont wines produce some of Italy's most celebrated and age-worthy expressions. Our hand-picked selection includes powerful Barolo, vibrant Barbera d'Asti, and elegant Gavi - each bottle tasted by us and chosen for its quality and authenticity.
