There are four classifications of wine produced in Italy. These categories correspond to designations that encompass laws to protect the quality and authenticity of Italian wines.

Italy is the world’s largest producer of wine, representing about a quarter of the world’s production. According to Italy’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MIPAAF), there are 350 grapes that have been granted an authorized status plus at least an additional 500 documented, but not officially authorized local varieties. One of these documented grapes is the ancient Sicilian grape variety called “Frappato.”

Puglia is a region in Southern Italy with the Adriatic Sea on its east border, the Ionian Sea on its southeast border and finally the Strait of Otranto and Gulf of Taranto to the south border.

Valpolicella is the home to a wine-making region in the Veneto in northeast Italy at the foothills of the Alps.