Italy is divided into twenty political regions, which also serve as wine regions. Each of these regions have unique characteristics, including varietals, weather, soil, elevations, and growing and winemaking technique. So although, a few regions produce the large majority of the best wines, each offer good to great wines and unforgettable and pleasurable experiences.

One of the confusing things about Italian wine is that a "wine name" may, in addition to the producer, include (or not) the grape varietal, area/sub-area name, Region name, or a "brand". For example two common wine names are Chianti and Barbera. Chianti refers to a wine area and Barbera is a grape variety. So, once you know something about the regions and its grape varietals, understanding wine names gets a lot simpler.

Italian Wine Classification System:

A wine-producing area (or sub-area) with any of the following designations can be in any Italian wine region, although not all regions have yet produced wines that get the DOCG designation.

Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG): Certification of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin

Denominazione di Origine (DOC): Certification of Controlled Origin

Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT): Typical Geographic Indication

Vino da Tavola (VDT): Table Wine

意大利葡萄酒产区
位于地中海区的意大利半岛，整体气侯干燥炎热，天然条件非常适合葡萄生长，是全世界最大的葡萄酒出产国，其产量将近全球的五分之一。从北边山区到南端西西里岛，共差10度纬度，全国的土地，又不离调节天气高手的山与海，使得每省有其独特的气候。由于地形变化较大， 各地气候不同、 加之葡萄品种繁多，使意大利拥有许多风味不同、 性格独特的葡萄酒。 全国可分20区，葡萄酒的分级系统从1963年开始成立，共分为四个等级。

意大利葡萄酒级别：
Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG): 表示法定产区的优质葡萄酒，是最高级

Denominazione di Origine (DOC): 表示法定产区酒，约等同于法国的AOC等级

Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT): 是优良餐酒

Vino da Tavola (VDT): 是最普通等级的葡萄酒，是意大利葡萄酒的主力，但其中也有不俗的产品