What’s better than sunny weather and a glass of cold Italian white wine?
Italy enjoys a variety of climates, from the cooler northern regions to the sun-drenched island of Sicily in the south. The combined output of these wine regions provides a cornucopia of white wine experiences: from the fresh, melon and honey inflected Gavi di Gavi of Piedmont to the saline and citrussy Verdicchios of Le Marche; and from the spicy, juicy Greco di Matera of Basilicata to the mineral, appley whites of Etna.
‘It’s impossible to think of Italian wine outside the context of food,’ said Fiona Beckett, in her guide to Italy’s best white wines with food.
Most of these wines have enough acidity and flavour intensity to make them great for classic al fresco dining, particularly when paired with a crisp salad or grilled chicken or white fish.
‘Italian wines tend to be more food- friendly because they have higher acidity – a key factor in food pairing,’ Jack Lewens, ex-sommelier, now wine producer, told Andy Howard MW in his top food friendly wines from around Italy.
We’ve also included a couple of white sparkling wines in the selection too, to help get the party started.
Italy is known for offering tremendous value for money and most of the wines here are well under £20, with many coming in under £10. We’ve included a handful of supermarket own-label wines too, as there’s plenty of value to be found at your local supermarket when it comes to Italy.
Top Italian white wines for summer under £20
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Tesco, Finest Extra Brut, Franciacorta, Lombardy, Italy
A lovely purity of plump melon and pineapple with stewed apple characters; ripe, rounded and full of charisma.
TescoFranciacorta
Mani Sagge, Rive di Manzana Brut, Prosecco, Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Superiore, Veneto, Italy, 2019
From a steep slope planted with old vines, this Rive bottling is deliciously savoury and well balanced, displaying an earthy nose of orchard fruits and...
2019
Mani SaggeProsecco
Cappella Sant'Andrea, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy, 2019
Third generation Flavia del Seta and husband Francesco Galgani make five distinct, well conceived Vernaccias from nearly 10 hectares of vines just a brief stroll...
2019
Cappella Sant'AndreaVernaccia di San Gimignano
Vesevo, Greco di Tufo, Campania, Italy, 2019
Without any particularly ambitious winemaking, this is expressive and rich. The 2019 vintage, firmness of the grape and graceful extraction of phenolics give a wine...
2019
VesevoGreco di Tufo
Inama, Vigneti di Foscarino, Soave, Classico, Veneto, Italy, 2017
A complex, savoury Soave Classico produced from 40-year-old vines growing on the basalt-volcanic soils on the southeast slopes of Monte Foscarino. Fermented and aged in...
2017
InamaSoave
Andrea Felici, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, Classico Superiore, Le Marche, Italy, 2019
Leopoldo Felici has been in charge at this small Marche estate since 2008. Altitude helps Felici marry the richer structure of Jesi with the aromatics...
2019
Andrea FeliciVerdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi
Siddùra, Maìa, Vermentino di Gallura, Superiore, Sardinia, Italy, 2019
Raised on the granite soils of the Gallura region on Sardinia’s wild northeast coast, this Vermentino has a long, elegant and mineral finish. Opening with...
2019
SiddùraVermentino di Gallura
Paternoster, Vulcanico Falanghina, Basilicata, Italy, 2018
Paternoster, one of Basilicata's most important estates, is an Aglianico specialist. But don't let that take away from this excellent Falanghina, grown on the region's...
2018
Paternoster
K Martini & Sohn, Palladium Gewurztraminer, Alto Adige/Südtirol, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy, 2018
Gewurztraminer is capable of producing incredibly aromatic wines, especially in lofty sites such as the cool hills of the Sudtirol in Alto Adige. This example...
2018
K Martini & SohnAlto Adige/Südtirol
Citari, Vigneto La Conchiglia, Lugana, Lombardy, Italy, 2019
91
As we move into spring, Lugana is the perfect white wine style to accompany the lighter style of cuisine that we'll start to enjoy – and especially fish and seafood dishes. It's a category that's growing in profile, and this delightful example shows just why it's becoming more popular. Made from 25-30 year old Trebbiano di Lugana vines grown around the shores of Lake Garda, it's hand harvested, and aged in stainless steel for seven months, six of them on fine lees. Clean, zippy and refreshing, you'll find tangy lemon peel citrus, hints of fresh green apple, good acidity and a pleasing weight in the mouth. Sip it and look forward to summer.
2019
CitariLugana
Nero Oro, Appassimento Grillo, Sicily, Italy, 2019
90
The addition of a portion of dried grapes to this Sicilian white adds richness not often associated with Grillo. Waxy scents of orange zest, peach, lemon, apple and honey are followed by pithy grapefruit, juicy tangerine, rich dried apricot and a subtle honey and nut finish.
2019
Nero Oro
Jummare, Vermentino, Sicily, Italy, 2019
90
From vineyards in Menfi at an altitude of 250m, this organic, vegan-friendly Vermentino has some decent concentration of fresh, tangy green apple fruit, even sour apple, and floral lift with a peachy mid-palate and some herbiness on the finish.
2019
Jummare
Morrisons, The Best Pinot Grigio, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy, 2019
90
Produced in the mountainous northern Italy, it has a nose of white blossom, ripe white peach and lemon fruits. Stone fruit and crisp green apple acidity on the palate, spiced by a touch of white pepper. Good concentration of flavours, with melon and peachy undertone lingers on to the finish.
2019
Morrisons
Marks & Spencer, Found Ribolla Gialla, Venezia Giulia, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy, 2020
89
In Italian, 'gialla' means yellow, here referring to the colour of this indigenous northern grape. Domus Vini makes this wine exclusively for M&S and it boasts ripe peach and pear aromas and flavours, with juicy clementine acidity and meadow flower lift. A rounder, weighter alternative to Pinot Grigio.
2020
Marks & SpencerVenezia Giulia
Rocca del Principe, Tognano, Fiano di Avellino, Campania, Italy, 2017
From an estate in Lapio. The Tognano cru is located on volcanic and clay soils. This wine undergoes longer ageing compared to the classic DOP...
2017
Rocca del PrincipeFiano di Avellino
Santa Tresa, Rina Lanca Grillo Viognier, Sicilia, Sicily, Italy, 2019
This organic and biodynamic Grillo has a delicious honeyed apple aroma, with some peachy touches. In the mouth honey is drizzled over over juicy tangerine...
2019
Santa TresaSicilia
Asda, Extra Special Pinot Grigio, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy, 2019
89
This north-Italian Pinot grigio features typical melon and peardrop aromas, with juicy lemon and apple flavours with a hint of herbs. There's also a touch of juicy peach on the finish. A pinot Grigio that balances flavour and freshness.
2019
Asda
Paolo Leo, Triade Bianco, Campania, Italy, 2019
Triade is an unusual but exciting blend of three of Campania’s most celebrated native varieties: Fiano, Falanghina and Greco. It offers great value and is...
2019
Paolo Leo
Tesco, Finest Greco, Irpina, Campania, Italy, 2018
88
<p>Tesco's own-brand Italian whites are a reliable option for those seeking food-friendly styles. This Greco di Tufo from one of Campania's leading producers, Feudi di San Gregorio, offers ripe appley fruit, some citrus notes and firm acidity. A good balance between fruit and freshness. This wine is being delisted in summer 2021.</p>
2018
TescoIrpina
Saladini Pilastri, Pecorino, Offida, Le Marche, Italy, 2019
88
This large estate in the south of Italy's Marche region has been certified organic since 1994. Its Pecorino has good varietal typicity: mid-straw yellow hue, a nose fragrant with firm lemony fruit, jasmine and herbs, and some peachy ripeness. It's steel aged – no oak – and has good weight. Crisp and aromatic, it's worth trying as an alternative to Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio.
2019
Saladini PilastriOffida