The Ultimate Guide to Italy Wine Holidays

Wine holidays in Italy offer something truly special. Wandering through the vineyards, learning about the history of wine on Italy wine tours, while savouring some of the best blends in the world. 

If that sounds like your type of Italy holiday, continue reading to discover Citalia’s ultimate guide to Italy wine holidays. 

Savouring Sicily

The fertile soil of Sicily brings us the stunning Nero d’Avola grape, used to make fantastic wine. The volcanic landscape around Mount Etna is to thank, offering a refreshing and smooth wine that isn’t too dry. 

Sicily is the largest of the Mediterranean Islands, offering a summer holiday sensation to all who visit. Sicily is also the largest wine region in Italy by landmass, with 98,000 hectares of pure wine wonders to be explored. 

The hot and dry climate makes Sicily the ideal spot for growing sweet grape varieties, perfect for a good old glass of Marsala with dessert. While there are many variations, a true marsala wine will have flavours including, honey, dried apricot, vanilla, nuts, brown sugar, and tamarind. 

If you’re looking for sunshine, sea, and sensational wine, Sicily holidays have it all, providing the ultimate Italian wine holiday. You’re in for some serious island fun, along with succulent seafood, and natural splendour. 

Citalia’s Treasures of Sicily Small Group Escorted Tour offers an eight day Italy island extravaganza. This is the best time to take in all the incredible sites of Sicily, try the local cuisine, visit a traditional winery, and explore like a Citalian, along with a local guide to learn about the sensations of Sicily.

Tempting Tuscany

Tuscany is possibly the most famous wine region in the world, producing some of the most beloved fine wines. With the lush green rolling hills as a backdrop along with historic architecture from hundreds of years old winemaking establishments, it’s no surprise that wine lovers pour into Tuscany for a taste of the best and a good old wine tour. 

One of the most famous blends, the classic Chianti hails from the Chianti region of Italy. Comprised of various provinces, including Pisa, Florence, Arezzo, and everything in between, the Chianti region is infamous for its unique wine. 

A classic Chianti is generally quite savoury with a dash of tannin, pairing beautifully with a range of classic Italian dishes. It’s not too heavy, leaving ample space for truly tasting the grapes and pairing the wine with some fantastic cuisine, something the Chianti region is also famous for. The second weekend in September will bring you to the annual Chianti Classico wine tasting festival in Greve, an absolute must for wine lovers visiting Italy. 

Learn more in our Classic Chianti blog, to discover what makes this great wine such an infamous part of Italian history. Citalia’s Wine Tasting and Lunch in the Chianti Region experience offers the ideal chance to taste some of the region's top wines while enjoying a classic Italian meal with sensational views. 

Florence is another must visit while on holiday in the Chianti region. Welcome to the home of the historic wine windows of Florence. History lovers, you’re in for a treat exploring these historic sites while learning about and sampling famous wines from the surrounding vineyards. Florence holidays also offer some of the best galleries in Italy. Known as the Beating Heart of Tuscany, Florence is filled with history, art, wine, lush landscapes, and all things truly Italian.

Vibrant Veneto

The Veneto region is massive, spanning from as far as the Dolomite mountains to the Adriatic. As one of the largest regions in Italy, Veneto offers a world of wine that is unmatched. For example, Bardolino Chiaretto is a rose wine made just east of Lake Garda, providing a fruity flavour, ideal for watching the sunset on a stunning Italy summer holiday. 

Another top wine from the Veneto region is the infamous Prosecco. This sparkling white wine is a worldwide favourite, pairing beautifully with any charcuterie board or light seafood dish. 

If you’re looking for a romantic Italy holiday, look no further than Verona, the home of Romeo and Juliet. Verona is located within the Veneto area, providing the perfect backdrop to a romantic Italian holiday. Another top romantic destination in Italy, Venice, invites you to sit back and be serenaded while enjoying a glass of the Veneto region's best along the captivating canals. 

Lake Garda is also found within the Veneto region and offers the ideal space for watching the world go by with a perfect glass of Italy’s best in the lap of luxury.

Bardolino holidays invite you to sit in the harbour, taking in the luxury yachts. Heading into the surrounding hills is a true wine lover's adventure, where you can savour superb cuisine along with a glass of the region's infamous wine. Plus, the annual Bardolino Wine Festival is a top wine event, inviting you to try some of the best wines in Italy.

Perfect Piedmont

Piedmont holidays are about as picturesque as it gets. Surrounded by the Alps on three sides, Piedmont offers some of the largest glaciers and highest peaks in Italy. The natural landscapes around Piedmont are stunning, with expansive vineyards and lavish lakes, including Lake Orta and Maggiore. 

Situated in north-western Italy, Piedmont countryside holidays offer some of the best wine getaways in Italy. Think sweeping vineyards with medieval castles surrounded by rural villages, the epitome of Italian wine history. One in particular, Gavi village, is home to the Cortese di Gavi – a DOCG dry white.