Italy

Italy is the largest wine-producing nation by volume. On OIV estimates, its 2025 output reached 44.4 million hectolitres, 19.7 percent of the world total, from a vineyard of 726 thousand hectares, 10.3 percent of the world's vineyard surface. ISMEA, working from Agea and Istat data, records 680,741 hectares under vine in 2024 and production of 44,066 thousand hectolitres in the same year. There are 522 wine designations across DOP (DOCG, DOC) and IGP (IGT), with 411 DOP and 111 IGP production specifications published. ISMEA counts 529 recognitions, split 77 DOCG, 333 DOC and 119 IGT. The national DOP list records the region or autonomous province behind every denomination, from the Valle d'Aosta DOC to the Sicilia DOC and the Vermentino di Gallura DOCG.

• 726 thousand hectares of vineyard in 2025, 10.3 percent of the world total
• 44.4 million hectolitres produced in 2025, 19.7 percent of the world total
• 522 DOP and IGP wine designations, with 411 DOP and 111 IGP specifications published
• Four commercial categories: DOCG, DOC, IGT and vini da tavola

The centre of gravity of the Italian vineyard has moved. Since 2020 Veneto has overtaken Sicily as the leading region by vineyard surface, and since the start of the new millennium the Italian vineyard has shifted to the northeast, helped by the success of Prosecco and Delle Venezie. Between 2000 and 2023 vineyard area rose 52.7 percent in Friuli Venezia Giulia and 37.8 percent in Veneto, against a national change of minus 14.8 percent. 2025 was a relatively favourable year in Italy, with a mild spring, balanced rainfall and a summer that was not excessively hot. Output growth was driven primarily by southern regions, with moderate increases in the north, while central Italy recorded a slight decline that largely reflected lower volumes in Tuscany. The vineyard contracted by 0.3 percent in 2025 to 726 thousand hectares, after a significant expansion in 2024.

• Veneto has led Italian regions by vineyard surface since 2020
• Vineyard area 2000 to 2023: up 52.7 percent in Friuli Venezia Giulia and 37.8 percent in Veneto
• 2025 growth driven primarily by southern regions, with central Italy slightly down
• Vineyard of 726 thousand hectares in 2025, down 0.3 percent on 2024

Italian wine is marketed in four categories: DOCG, DOC, IGT and vini da tavola, alongside special wines such as liquoroso, spumante, frizzante and aromatised wines. DOCG and DOC are the traditional mentions defined under Article 112(a) of Regulation (EU) 1308/2013 that show a wine carries a protected designation of origin (DOP). IGT is the traditional mention that shows a wine carries a protected geographical indication (IGP). DOCG and DOC production specifications fix the name, the growing technique, the blends, the maximum yields, the vinification zone and the wine's characteristics, and these wines undergo chemical-physical and organoleptic examination by a tasting commission. IGT wines must be made at least 85 percent from grapes harvested in the geographical zone whose name they carry. A wine must have spent at least seven years as a DOC before DOCG recognition, DOCG wine cannot be distributed in containers over six litres, and each DOCG bottle carries a state-issued alphanumeric label. A PDO takes 100 percent of its grapes from the delimited territory and is produced there, while a PGI takes 85 percent of its grapes from the delimited territory. Federdoc, the national confederation of voluntary consortia that protect Italian wine designations, was established in 1979. In the pyramid in force until 2009, vini da tavola sat at the base, produced without reference to a territory or geographical area.

• DOCG and DOC are traditional mentions for DOP wines under Article 112(a) of Regulation (EU) 1308/2013
• IGT is the traditional mention for IGP wines, made at least 85 percent from the named zone
• Seven years as a DOC precede DOCG recognition, with a state-issued alphanumeric label on every bottle
• Until 2009, vini da tavola sat at the base of the pyramid, with no reference to a territory or geographical area

Abruzzo. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Trebbiano d'Abruzzo are DOCs of Abruzzo, and Casauria is a DOCG of the region. Basilicata. Aglianico del Vulture is a DOC of Basilicata and Aglianico del Vulture Superiore its DOCG, alongside the Matera DOC. Calabria. Cirò is a DOC of Calabria and Cirò Classico its DOCG, with Terre di Cosenza among the region's other DOCs. Campania. Taurasi, Fiano di Avellino and Greco di Tufo are all DOCGs of Campania. Central Italy. Central Italy recorded a slight decline in 2025 output, largely reflecting lower volumes in Tuscany. Delle Venezie DOC (Interregional). The delle Venezie DOC, also Beneških okolišev, is registered jointly to Friuli Venezia Giulia, the Autonomous Province of Trento and Veneto. Emilia-Romagna. Romagna Albana and Colli Bolognesi Pignoletto are DOCGs of Emilia Romagna, with Reggiano among the region's DOCs. Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Ramandolo and Rosazzo are DOCGs of Friuli Venezia Giulia, and Collio Goriziano, also Collio, is a DOC of the region. Lazio. Frascati Superiore and Cannellino di Frascati are DOCGs of Lazio, with Castelli Romani among the region's DOCs. Liguria. Cinque Terre and Cinque Terre Sciacchetrà form a DOC of Liguria, alongside Colli di Luni and Riviera Ligure di Ponente. Lombardy. Franciacorta, Valtellina Superiore and Oltrepò Pavese metodo classico are DOCGs of Lombardia. Marche. Cònero, Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva and Offida are DOCGs of Marche. Molise. Molise, also del Molise, Biferno and Tintilia del Molise are DOCs of Molise. Northeast Italy. Since the start of the new millennium the Italian vineyard has moved to the northeast, helped by the success of Prosecco and Delle Venezie. Between 2000 and 2023 vineyard area rose 52.7 percent in Friuli Venezia Giulia and 37.8 percent in Veneto, against a national change of minus 14.8 percent. Piedmont. Barolo, Barbaresco, Asti and Alta Langa are DOCGs of Piemonte. Puglia. Castel del Monte Rosso Riserva is a DOCG of Puglia, with Primitivo di Manduria and Salice Salentino among its DOCs. IGP Puglia leads the Italian IGP segment, with 1.5 million hectolitres worth 102 million euro in bulk product, 18 percent of the Italian IGP wine total. Sardinia. Vermentino di Gallura is a DOCG of Sardegna, with Cannonau di Sardegna and Vernaccia di Oristano among the island's DOCs. Sicily. Cerasuolo di Vittoria is a DOCG of Sicilia, with the Etna and Sicilia DOCs alongside it and Terre Siciliane as an IGT. Southern Italy. In 2025 Italian output growth was driven primarily by southern regions, with moderate increases in the north. Trentino-Alto Adige. Trento and Teroldego Rotaliano are DOCs of the Autonomous Province of Trento, and Alto Adige, also Südtirol, is a DOC of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano. Vigneti delle Dolomiti, also Weinberg Dolomiten, runs as an IGT across both autonomous provinces and Veneto. Tuscany. Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Vernaccia di San Gimignano are DOCGs of Toscana, with Toscano, also Toscana, and Colli della Toscana centrale as IGTs. Umbria. Montefalco Sagrantino and Torgiano Rosso Riserva are DOCGs of Umbria, with Spoleto among its DOCs and Umbria itself as an IGT. Valle d'Aosta. Valle d'Aosta, also Vallée d'Aoste, is a DOC of the region. Veneto. Amarone della Valpolicella, Conegliano Valdobbiadene - Prosecco and Soave Superiore are DOCGs of Veneto. The Prosecco DOC is registered jointly to Friuli Venezia Giulia and Veneto, and the Trevenezie IGT to Friuli Venezia Giulia, the Autonomous Province of Trento and Veneto.

Sangiovese is the most planted variety in Italy, at 65,083 hectares in 2022. Glera follows at 38,882 hectares, Pinot Grigio at 31,517, Catarratto at 31,118, Montepulciano at 30,763 and Trebbiano Toscano at 27,090. Chardonnay stands at 23,592 hectares, Barbera at 19,708, Primitivo at 19,082 and Merlot at 18,840. The variety inventory totals 673,529 hectares for 2022 and also reports 2005, 2013 and 2021. Over the last twenty years the success of Prosecco has led Glera to more than triple its vineyard area, and Pinot Grigio has more than doubled.

• Sangiovese: 65,083 hectares in 2022, the most planted variety
• Glera: 38,882 hectares, more than tripled over the last twenty years
• Pinot Grigio: 31,517 hectares, more than doubled over the same period
• Catarratto 31,118 hectares, Montepulciano 30,763 hectares, Trebbiano Toscano 27,090 hectares

In 2024 Italy had 680,741 hectares under vine and produced 44,066 thousand hectolitres; in round figures, 681 thousand hectares and 44 million hectolitres, up 15 percent. The 2020 agricultural census counted 241 thousand viticultural enterprises, and there are 30 thousand wine-producing companies, with cooperatives accounting for more than 55 percent of the wine. Certified geographical indications represent 55 percent of production, and sector turnover reaches 14 billion euro, 10 percent of Italian agri-food turnover. Italy exported 21.7 million hectolitres of wine in 2024, up 3.2 percent on 2023, worth 8.1 billion euro, up 5.5 percent in value, and per-capita consumption is estimated at 37.8 litres. Exports then declined to 21.0 million hectolitres in 2025, while imports fell to 2.3 million hectolitres, down 10.2 percent on 2024.

• 680,741 hectares under vine and 44,066 thousand hectolitres produced in 2024
• Exports of 21.7 million hectolitres worth 8.1 billion euro in 2024
• 241 thousand viticultural enterprises and 30 thousand wine-producing companies
• Exports of 21.0 million hectolitres and imports of 2.3 million hectolitres in 2025

Primary sources used for this article: MASAF, Vini DOP e IGP: https://www.masaf.gov.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/395 MASAF, Elenchi e disciplinari vini DOP e IGP: https://www.masaf.gov.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/4625 MASAF, Qualita: https://www.masaf.gov.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/309 MASAF, Elenco alfabetico Vini DOP and Elenco alfabetico Vini IGP (PDF lists linked from IDPagina/4625) MASAF, Conoscere il Vino: https://www.masaf.gov.it/flex/files/7/a/9/D.ea0762982c3dcd77922d/VinoGeneralit_.pdf MASAF, Elenco dei vini DOCG, DOC e IGT suddivisi per regione: https://www.masaf.gov.it/flex/files/8/8/c/D.c98d43be48c9b307022a/Vini_DOCG_DOC_IGT_suddivisi_per_regione.pdf ISMEA, Scheda di settore L'Italia del Vino, April 2025: https://www.ismeamercati.it/flex/files/1/7/d/D.82b20cf3014aaeab8250/SchedaVino_Aprile_2025.pdf Federdoc, Italian PDO Wines booklet 2024-2025: https://www.federdoc.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/booklet-2024-2025-EN-web.pdf Secondary source: OIV, State of the World Wine Sector in 2025: https://www.oiv.int/sites/default/files/2026-05/OIV-State_of_the_World_Wine_Sector_in_2025.pdf Last verified 2026-10-05