Italy is a romantic country with awesome landscapes, seductive language, bountiful colors and aromas, food for which to die, and wines that heighten the already overwhelming, memorable luck of visiting such grand terrain.

Known for producing spectacular red wines, Italy is also a top competitor in white wines. Italy has diverse weather throughout the country and the intensity or placating of the climate greatly affects the growing of the grapes.

Grapes that used to be specific to a particular area in the world are now, with the ever-increasing opportunity to explore and create suitable environments, expanded into regions of the world one might least expect a certain grape for a particular wine to grow.

The world has great wines to offer and always a front-runner in producing great wines in the past, Italy is still number one for producing some of the best and most sought after wines in the world.

Italian white wines may not get the same attention as Italian red wines, but these wines have flavors and qualities that can complement any meal or occasion. Four Italian white wines of note are Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Moscato D'Asti and Soave.

Pinot Grigio

The variety of grapes make Italian white wine versatile. Pinot Grigio has a pale-gold color, although some varieties have a hint of red. With its peach and citrus aromas and light body, Pinot Grigio can be served as an appetizer wine or a dinner wine. This wine may be paired with fish or poultry. Some wine connoisseurs claim that this wine is more acidic than most, but still enjoy the bite and crispness and the aroma of fruit.

A wine vineyard with blue sky and hills. — Photo by Trent Erwin on Unsplash.

Franciacorta

Italy's best sparkling wine is Lombardia's Franciacorta. These high-quality wines from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Bianco use the traditional sparkling method. Because of warm growing conditions, Franciacorta is often made with little or no dosage. As a result, these are great and usually less expensive alternatives for fans of extra-brut or brut nature Champagne.

Muscato D'Asti

Muscato D'Asti is an Italian white wine that is carbonated and known as a sparkling white wine. The Muscato grape is true to its appearance when it comes to the color and taste.

The wine has an enriched sugar content that hightens the aromatic smell of the grape and gives the wine a sweeter taste than most non-sparkling wines. The fermentation of the wine is stopped at 5 percent alcohol so that the carbonation from the fermentation process will produce the bubbles that are associated with sparkling wines.

A hand holding a glass of white wine, tipping it to the side. — Photo by rinat shakirov on Unsplash.

Soave

Produced in the area around Verona, Italy, Soave wine is considered the dry white wine of Italy. Though there are sparkling and sweet varieties, the dry Soave is favored among Italians. Soave is aged for eight months which gives it a alcohol ratings of 11.5 percent.

It is the color of straw and has a light acidic taste. The dry variety has a touch of tannin, but not so much as to take away from its mellow flavor. It is usually served with fish or other light, white meats. Soave is also used as an appetizer wine before dinner or with bread and fruit.

Vermentino

A refreshing, aromatic white found particularly in Sardinia and Liguria, known for its bright acidity and notes of citrus and herbs.

Pecorino

One of my favourites and native to the Marche region, Pecorino is now one of Italy's most desired white wines. With citrus notes and herbal quality, this is a wine which is very easy to enjoy and works well when hosting a gathering.