Italy has more native grape varieties than any other country in the world - and many of them are white. While the country is better known for big name Piedmontese and Tuscan reds like Barolo, Brunello and Chianti, it also has a hugely diverse range of high-quality whites to offer. Partly, it's elevation; with the Alps in the far north and the central spine of the Apennines running all the way from Liguria to the tip of Calabria, a lot of Italy is at altitude. That brings the combination of sunlight and cooler temperatures that can make for great white wines. And across Italy, there are many white grape varieties that excel in retaining acidity even when the weather gets hot.
To help you get to grips with some of the bounty of Italian white wines, we've put together a 12-bottle mixed case with money off and free delivery. /NT
ALTO ADIGE
2023 Kuenhof Sudtirol Eisacktaler Sylvaner
From the Alpine far north of Italy, just over the peaks from Austria. The Pliger family have owned the Kuenhof estate and its vertiginous, high-altitude vineyards for 200 years. Raised in neutral old oak, their 2023 Sylvaner is a thrilling, mineral wine.
LOMBARDY
2025 Nunzio Ghiraldi Il Gruccione Lugana
In the 'golden mile' of thick clay soils that line the southern shore of Lake Garda, the Turbiana grape (a local clone of Verdicchio) acquires rare concentration. Nunzio Ghiraldi's Il Gruccione is exuberantly aromatic, full of notes of honeysuckle, almond and peach. 'Gruccione' means 'bee-eater', and the wine is named after the colourful African birds that spend summer nesting in the vineyards.
PIEDMONT
2024 Marco Porello Camestri Roero Arneis
Across the Tanaro River from Barolo, the sandy hills of Roero are the natural home of Arneis. This subtle, scented white variety is another one of Piedmont's native gems. The 2024 Marco Porello Camestri has a lovely Seville orange note to it.
2024 La Zerba Terrarossa Gavi del Comune di Tassarolo
Tassarolo is the highest of the Gavi communes, and La Zerba's vineyards are perched on a south-facing outcrop of iron-rich soil. It's a rewarding terroir. La Zerba keep yields low and allow for a protracted harvest, and the result is Cortese at its very best; think floral notes with rich peach across the mid-palate, and a lemon-fresh finish.
2024 Fratelli Alessandria Langhe Favorita
Favorita is Vermentino as cultivated around the town of Alba. Fratelli Alesssandria is a brilliant Barolo producer dating back to the 1830s, and their Favorita is a beauty, with notes of wild flower and white peach.
LIGURIA
2024 Terre Bianche Riviera Ligure di Ponente Pigato
Liguria is the stretch of Italy where the northern Apennines meet the coast. Terre Bianche take their name from the dazzling clay soils in the Apennine foothills, close to the French border. Pigato is another local variant of Vermentino (though many local producers refuse to admit these two can be the same variety). Think Amalfi lemon and wild fennel.
2024 Cantine Lunae Etichetta Nera Colli di Luni Vermentino
In the far east of Liguria, abutting Tuscany, the vines of Cantina Lunae look down to the sea from the Colli di Luni hills. This sprightly Vermentino has a lovely citrus-and-sea-salt freshness.
TUSCANY
2024 Argentiera Eco di Mare Toscana Vermentino
From the Tuscan seaside, this lovely, textured Vermentino is all grapefruit and bitter almond. It demands to be accompanied with a dish of prawns or a plate of white fish.
MARCHE
2025 Saladini Pilastri Falerio
The limestone soils, south-facing slopes and Adriatic sea breezes make pretty good conditions for viticulture on the Saladini family estate. Falerio is a generous and appealing field blend of Trebbiano and the very Adriatic varieties of Pecorino, Passerina, along with Fiano and even some Chardonnay (which has been established in Italy long enough to have developed some unique local clones).
LAZIO
2025 Cincinnato Castore Lazio Bellone
With luscious texture, juicy acidity and typically honeyed tropical fruit aromas, the rare Roman grape variety of Bellone can make some fabulous wines, if its abundant tendency to overproduce can be kept in check. Local grape variety specialists Cincinnato have done a great job with their Castore, and it will show you what Bellone is all about.
CAMPANIA
2024 Terredora Corte di Giso Irpinia Falanghina
Despite being in the warm south, Campania is best known for white wines. That's partly the elevation, and partly the ability of many local varieties to retain acidity through a hot growing season. Falanghina is probably the grape variety that made the Falernum wine which was revered by the ancient Romans. The honeysuckle lushness of the Terredora Falanghina leans into a surprisingly mineral finish.
2024 Terredora Loggia della Serra Greco di Tufo
Late-ripening Greco di Tufo is among Italy's most noble white varieties. Terredora's Loggia della Serra nicely captures the variety’s intensity, minerality and ageing potential, with aromas of wildflower and flint, and a structured, full-bodied palate.
