Just in Time for Festivities: Explore Italy’s Wine Roads with a Culinary Adventure

For as long as Italians have eaten good food, they have enjoyed good wine. The country is the world’s second-largest wine producer and besides a few hiccups after the fall of Rome, has been a consistent leader in viticulture for centuries.

Italy’s wine roads are a chance to trace this storied history back and taste not only the wines that have made the country famous but the food too. Traced through vineyards, wineries, and historical villages, Italy’s wine roads offer an exploratory journey through some of the most unique parts of the country, where wine and food are sourced from neighboring hillsides and enjoyed together in unforgettable meals.

The only downside is that there is almost too much to taste and do. Keep reading for our guide on the unmissable Italian wine road stops, and the best time of year to take in each region.

Tuscany’s Chianti Wine Road

Tuscany’s Chianti wine road, otherwise known as the Chiantigiana or the 222 road, begins in Florence and snakes through the region’s hilly landscape of vineyards and olive groves until you reach Siena.

The Sangiovese grape is the star of this region and the main feature in Chianti wine which is, of course, a must-try. Chianti is best paired with another local delight, wild boar ragu, though we’d be remiss if we didn’t recommend ordering a truffle pasta while on the route too.

Tuscany is known for its summer heat, so try to time your trip around spring or autumn for milder weather. Make sure to stop off in Castellina if you can – the ancient town boasts a 14^th-century fortress and various other historical sites. Alongside these journeys into the past, the Chiantigiana also offers insight into modern Italian viticulture practices and the many vineyards that are taking an organic or biodynamic approach to wine-making.

Piedmont’s Barolo Wine Road

Piedmont comes alive in autumn. The vine leaves turn to gold, visitors get to see grapes being harvested fresh, and it’s also when white truffle season begins. Sat in the north of Italy, you can often see the snow-capped Alps even as you sit in the sun with a glass of the region’s best, but what exactly should you order to go with that stunning view?

Well, no trip along Piedmont’s Barolo Wine Road is complete without trying the Alba white truffle – one of Italy’s best foods. Order a classic truffle risotto or Alta Langa, a traditional Piedmontese dish with egg and shaved truffle, to taste this aromatic delight. For a glass of wine, you can’t go wrong with Barolo which, of course, is best tasted in the town of Barolo itself with its epic castle and unusual wineries.

Sicily’s Etna Wine Road

It’s appropriate that this route is named for Mount Etna, the region’s volcanic mountain, as it’s the unique climate around this active site that is behind Sicily’s famous agriculture. The volcanic soil means that reds grown in the region have smooth tannins and high acidity, best tasted in a glass of Nero d'Avola.

For a white wine, an Etna Bianco is the perfect Sicilian order. Produced from the Carricante grapes grown on the eastern side of the Etna, the wine is at once mineral-driven and fresh. The home of this wine also makes for a great stop on the Sicilian wine road. Milo is the main city in the east of Etna and besides stunning architecture, also has a famous viewing platform with a view of the Ionian Sea which is warm enough to swim in if you time your trip between April and October.

Food wise, no visit along the Etna wine road is complete without Arancini, a Sicilian classic. We’d also recommend trying local salads with fresh blood oranges, fennel, and black olives as these all grow locally and complement a chilled glass of wine perfectly.

Veneto’s Prosecco Wine Road

Not only is this the very first designated wine road in Italy, but it was recently named a UNESCO heritage site. Veneto’s Prosecco circular wine route winds through narrow roads from the western area of the valley, Valdobbiadene, through to Coneglaiano in the east. Along the route, there are various charming villages, but Follina has to be a favorite. A Cistercian abbey sits at the center of this hillside village and if you have anyone on the visit with you desperate for a break from wine, Follina is also known for its craft beer.

Prosecco, however, is the main wine to enjoy on this route and pairs best with charcuterie boards featuring Veneto’s local cheeses and meats. We’d also recommend trying Prosecco-infused gelato for a truly on-theme experience.

Any time of year is beautiful, but April to October has the most pleasant weather and fall is when you’ll see the hillside vineyards at their most dramatic as the leaves turn.

Umbria’s Wine Road

The Sagrantino Wine Road of Umbria takes you into the heart of Italy’s lush countryside where, from spring to autumn, visitors can enjoy an array of food and wine-themed events along the route.

For places to stop, we couldn’t recommend the hillside town of Montefalco more. Often referred to as the “balcony of Umbria,” it offers views over the entire countryside and shows off just how vast the vineyards are of the area. While there, order a glass of Montefalco Sagrantino. It’s made from 100% Sagrantino grapes and is thought to contain the highest amount of polyphenols (tannins) out of any wine.

Traveling along the Umbrian wine road, you’ll also notice how many dishes in the area are cooked in Sagrantino wine. One of the best is Gnocchi in a Sagrantino Wine Sauce. It’s simple, tasty, and only extends the appreciation for this area’s signature wine.

Whether you’re enjoying these culinary delights on the road or from the comfort of your own kitchen, we know you’ll fall in love with the rich tapestry of Italy’s wine roads. So, raise your glass, toast the season, and let Italy inspire your next unforgettable adventure.