14 Bucket List Cities In Italy For Wine Tasting

Italy is definitely one of the top places to visit if you love wine. With its ample wineries, almost perfect grape growing conditions, and delightful Italian dishes to pair all your wine with, Italy does not disappoint when it comes to savoring and sampling vino. Many wine enthusiasts even agree that wine simply tastes better in Italy.

Due to Italy's overall climate and landscape, native grapes have a character, texture, and taste that is seldom found anywhere else, which makes for the most incredible and complex wines. What's more, when you wine and dine in Bel Paese (the "beautiful country"), you can expect a first-class, cultivated, and intimate experience. This is especially true if you indulge in wine tasting in the gorgeous Italian countryside. That said, there are so many great places to sample the latest wines in Italy. In fact, here are some of the best cities in Italy for wine tasting to add to your bucket list.

Known as the heartland of Italian wine production, Tuscany is an absolute must on any traveler's to-do list for several reasons. Tuscany is the perfect spot for newbie tasters who want to learn more about this region's most celebrated drink. On the other hand, if you are a connoisseur of wine, Tuscany is still delightful and brimming with viticulture that is next to none. Though technically not a city, Tuscany is undoubtedly the place to be if you want to enjoy some world-class vino.

With over 400 wineries to peruse, including Antinori nel Chianti Classico and Camigliano Castle, wine lovers will be more than overjoyed in Toscana. In this truly picturesque region, visitors will find an abundance of fragrant red wines with bold and unique flavors. Of course, wine fans do not have to go it alone, as there are a variety of tours, day trips, and countless Tuscany tasting itineraries to follow on your own self-guided wine adventure. There are even several vineyards that offer accommodations, so the wine tasting does not have to stop when the sun sets.

Next on your once-in-a-lifetime wine tour of Italy should definitely be the city of Verona. A popular destination for wine enthusiasts, Verona is filled with incredible sights and has a rich history, stunning architecture, and a rave-worthy culinary scene. But that's not all the town rumored to inspire Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" has to offer — this UNESCO heritage site also has quite the selection of wines, vineyards, and tasting opportunities.

Wines like Amarone Della Valpolicella, Garuda, Lugana, and Valpolicella Ripasso hail from this city and should be added to your tasting itinerary when in Verona. Just a short drive from the city center, vino fans can indulge in classic wine tours, relish in full-bodied reds, and then some. And while marveling at the surrounding gorgeous landscape, wine connoisseurs can savor complex wines with various cheeses and meats — and finish it all off with a fine dining experience. Here, vino tourism spots like Le Morette and Boscaini Carlo are just two tasting options that offer fantastic wines, excellent food pairings, and breathtaking scenery.

For wine lovers looking to sample exclusive wines, a trip to Barolo is in order. Here wine fans can delight in full-bodied red wines and first-rate food pairings. The wines hailing from this famed Italian city are very similar to the rich Pinot Noirs of Burgundy, so if you enjoy light-to-medium-bodied vinos with complex fruity flavors, then wine tasting in Barolo is definitely for you.

Vineyards in Barolo span 11 villages and collectively make up the distinguished vinos that garner the name — the "Wine of Kings." Notable wineries for tastings in this flourishing wine town include Fratelli Serio & Battista Borgogno, Giovanni Rosso, Diego Morra, and Cascina Adelaide. Many of these phenomenal tasting spots have been in the wine-making business for generations — all of them are equally committed to producing high-quality, organic wines that are palatable and eco-friendly, plus demonstrate the beautiful balance of both traditional and modern wine-making methods. And if you happen to be limited on time when exploring this vast wine haven, make sure you stop by Cascina Adelaide — an underground cellar and winery that is truly a sight to behold, has quite the backstory, and offers an incredible selection of renowned varietals to savor.

For some serious noble reds, gorgeous scenery, and ample wineries to tour, Piedmont is a superb addition to your bucket list. Piedmont not only has an abundance of wine tasting, but this city also offers wine lovers first-class everything. With approximately five UNESCO-status wine-growing subregions here, travelers can expect nothing but the best when sampling reds, whites, and varietals in Piedmont.

A few must-visit wineries in this old-world-style destination include La Raia, Elvio Cogno, Michele Chiarlo, and Podere ai Valloni. La Raia is a highly-rated winery that is no stranger to blending local tradition and modern technology to produce delightfully crisp, floral, and aromatic Gavi wine (its flagship white wine). Alternatively, Elvis Cogno and Michele Chiarlo are two uniquely different wine houses and vineyards that are notably steeped in tradition and offer an extensive assortment of reds ranging from sweet to mildly acidic. Podere ai Valloni, on the other hand, is an award-winning certified organic winery that features several full-bodied reds and high-quality varietals.

Florence is yet another bucket list stop while sampling Italian vino in the Beautiful Country. Known as the Chianti region of Italy, Florence has countless vineyards and brand-name wine houses that have made a name for themselves worldwide. With ample tasting opportunities, tours, and customizable experiences here, wine enthusiasts are in for a real treat in Florence.

Of course, there is no denying the fact that Florence is the ideal spot for travelers looking to bask in all the beauty of Italy. From its alluring architecture, fascinating history, and rich cultural scene to its sensational scenery, flavorsome food, and wonderous wines, the City of Lilies should be on everyone's to-do list. The capital city of Tuscany also has a wealth of wine bars and stores that effortlessly showcase this city's wine selection. Favorites like Le Volpi e L'Uva, Casa del Vino, Procacci, and Il Santo Bevitore are excellent tasting options to check out after touring some of the great wineries, including Badia a Coltibuono and Castello di Ama.

One cannot simply go on a wine adventure in Italy without a stop-off in Veneto. Even if you are not a big fan of bubbly or sparkling wines, a tasting experience or two of Prosecco is undoubtedly bucket-list worthy. Though there is a town called Prosecco in northern Italy where this famed refreshing drink originally came to be and where the Glera grapes used to make Prosecco are still grown, wine production no longer takes place here, and thus quality tastings, tours, and more for Prosecco can be found elsewhere, like in the region of Veneto (Conegliano-Valdobbiadene). That said, who does not love a good glass of chilled Prosecco while basking in the lush rolling hills of Italy?

The Veneto region is another area on the map brimming with UNESCO world heritage gems and is fairly large. Nevertheless, if you are lucky enough to be in this great region, vineyards such as La Tordera, Marchiori, and Sorella Bronca are musts. La Tordera offers 11 different types of bubbly to sample, covers the region's historical roots, and highlights the importance of sustainable viticulture. Speaking of history, Marchiori is said to date back all the way to the Bronze Age. Sorella Bronca, on the other hand, is more focused on the future and organic practices. But, all three wineries are where you will find some of the best light, fruity, refreshing, and bubble-infused wines — so cin cin or salute (cheers).

Finally, Naples is a wonderful destination for wine aficionados. Even though this lovely Italian city is known for its superb pizza, first and foremost, Naples is no slouch when it comes to wine, either. Also, a part of the Campania region, Naples is home to some of Italy's oldest and most historic vineyards. Despite this fact, winemaking in Naples is cutting-edge and all about la dolce vita (the sweet life).

In fact, Cantina del Vesuvio, Il Mantegno Vineria, and Cantina del Taburno are popular wineries revered for their expert tastings and activities. Naples also has countless wine tours and wine bars. Plus, the regional capital city participates in the Vino Novello Festival, which takes place every fall to celebrate the new wine releases throughout the country with live music, free-flowing wine, and delicious fanfare. So whether it is Naples, Florence, Rome, or the entire region of Tuscany that tickles your fancy, if you love wine, then all of Italy has got you covered.