As a New York-based wine professional with over 7 years of experience, I’m frequently asked for recommendations on exceptional Italian white wines worth seeking out. After passing the notoriously difficult Master Sommelier examination in 2017 and working with top Italian wine importers and restaurants in NYC, I’ve had the pleasure of tasting hundreds of crisp, mineral-driven Italian white wines over my career. Read below about “Top Italian White Wines Recommended by NYC Master Sommelier in 2024”.
In this article, I’ll share my list of top Italian white wines to look for in 2024, drawing from my first-hand tasting experience and expertise gained through my Master Sommelier certification and continuing wine education. Whether you’re a wine novice looking to explore Italy’s white wine offerings or a seasoned connoisseur seeking new discoveries, I hope you’ll find inspiration from these stellar bottles I’m eager to open in the coming year.
Table of Contents
An Overview of Italian White Wine Regions
Italy is best known for varieties like Sangiovese and Nebbiolo found in iconic red wines from Tuscany and Piedmont. However, the country also produces world-class white wines in overlooked regions like Alto Adige, Friuli, Campania, and more. Italian whites showcase a range of grapes like Pinot Grigio, Ribolla Gialla, Falanghina, and Vermentino that reflect regional terroir with vibrant acidity, floral aromatics, and minerality.
As a Master Sommelier, I seek out Italian whites that balance complexity with easy drinkability. Whether enjoying as an aperitif wine or pairing with light seafood pastas, antipasti spreads, and herby risottos, Italian whites offer versatility for all occasions. In recent years, climate change and innovative winemaking have contributed to a new wave of complex Italian whites comparable to top white Burgundies.
Top Italian White Wines Recommended by NYC Master Sommelier in 2024
Based on recent vintages tasted, here are my top Italian white wine picks to try in 2024:
1. Produttori del Barbaresco Langhe Arneis “Angelica” 2020
Hailing from the prestigious Produttori del Barbaresco cooperative in Piedmont, this Arneis shows the potential of the overlooked white grape when grown in the calcareous clay of Barbaresco’s vineyards. Fermented and aged in stainless steel to preserve freshness, this white exudes notes of juicy pear, white flowers, and lime zest with a vibrant mineral backbone. It’s an ideal aperitif wine or pairs beautifully with vegetable tarts and light antipasti. With only 4,000 bottles made, the “Angelica” Arneis is a benchmark Italian white worth seeking out.
2. Gravner Breg Anfora Ribolla Gialla 2018
Pioneering Friulian producer Josko Gravner utilizes Georgian qvevri clay vessels to make unparalleled skin-contact whites. His amber-hued Ribolla Gialla is one of Italy’s most unique whites, with aromas of candied ginger and apricot preserves leading to an intensely textural palate. Aged for 6 years before release, this wine challenges preconceptions of Italian white with its savory, tannic structure. It’s a wine to contemplate, not to simply quaff, best enjoyed with flavorful hard cheeses.
3. Damijan Podversic Friuli Colli Orientali Bianco Kaplja 2020
The tiny 3.5-hectare Kaplja vineyard yields miniscule quantities of dazzling white blends by father-son duo Ferdinand and Žiga Černe. Indigenous Friulian grapes like Picolit, Vitovska, and Malvasia Istriana mingle with international varieties Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay for a complex yet harmonious wine. Notes of chamomile, lemon curd, and flint coupled with a rich, subtly creamy texture make this an ideal food wine for roasted fish or poultry. With its scarcity and acclaim, Kaplja sells out instantly to those in-the-know.
4. Antichi Poderi del Conte Luigi Russiz Colli Orientali del Friuli Tocai Friulano “Marin” 2021
Despite the synonym Tocai Friulano being retired by EU decree, producers like Russiz continue using the traditional name for Friuli’s signature white grape. Grown in the calcareous marl of their Runc vineyard, this 100% Tocai Friulano offers aromas of sweet pear, white flowers, and crushed rocks. The palate boasts juicy stone fruit flavors with vibrant acidity and a lingering finish. Enjoy its youthful freshness now with shellfish crudo or cellar for 3-5 years as it develops intriguing honeyed nuances.
5. I Clivi Brazan Collio Bianco 2020
The tiny, family-run I Clivi estate focuses on low-intervention winemaking that spotlights the Collio region’s complex terroir. Their Brazan blend combines Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc from poor ponca soils, yielding a deeply layered white. Ripe stone fruit and Meyer lemon mingle with hints of herbs and wet stone on the nose, while the palate shows a precise, almost salty minerality. Only 600 cases are made of this age-worthy white, which deserves pairing with lobster pasta or roast chicken.
6. Le Coste Moscato Giallo “Sant’Eufemia” 2021
Sommelier-run Le Coste focuses on indigenous Alpine varieties like Moscato Giallo, an ancient grape variety revived by this visionary estate. Grown on the steep, volcanic slopes of an ancient Roman vineyard site, Sant’Eufemia Moscato Giallo shows intense aromatics of mountain flowers and ripe apricot. The palate boasts vibrant acidity with flavors of fresh and dried stone fruit, with a delicate sweetness balanced by a clean, dry finish. Enjoy this textural white as an aperitif or dessert pairing.
7. La Vis Valle d’Aosta Petite Arvine “Prabiou” 2020
Petite Arvine is an obscure Alpine grape variety that thrives in Valle d’Aosta’s continental climate to yield complex whites. Grown on the sunny Prabiou site composed of sandy, granitic soils, this Petite Arvine shows aromas of pear, lemon verbena and flint. Laser-focused acidity and saline minerality give way to a textural mid-palate, with a hint of bitterness on the lingering finish reminiscent of unsweetened chocolate. An ideal pairing with rich seafood like seared scallops or Arctic char.
8. Terre Nere Etna Bianco 2021
Etna’s volcanic soils yield minerally, age-worthy whites made from indigenous Sicilian grapes. Terre Nere, led by famed volcano wine pioneer Marco de Grazia, produces this 70% Carricante and 30% Catarratto blend from vines averaging 60-100 years old. Fermented and aged in steel and large oak botti, this Etna Bianco offers aromas of lemon peel, white flowers, crushed rocks and subtle oak spice. The palate boasts razor-sharp acidity with wet stone and citrus pith flavors, with texture gained from extended lees contact before bottling. Cellar for 5+ years or enjoy now with swordfish involtini.
9. Feudi di San Gregorio Campania Falanghina 2021
Campania’s ancient Falanghina grape reaches superb heights near Mount Vesuvius, as shown by Feudi di San Gregorio’s bottling from 25-year-old vines. Partial aging in French oak lends texture, while lees stirring provides creaminess to balance Falanghina’s vibrant acidity. Aromas of white peach and lemon blossom mingle with subtle vanilla oak, leading to a medium-bodied palate with stone fruit and citrus flavors. Enjoy now with clams casino or age up to 5 years.
10. Tasca d’Almerita Sicilia Regaleali Bianco Perricone 2021
The historic Tasca d’Almerita estate put Sicily’s native Perricone grape on the map by creating the first single-varietal bottling. From 60-year-old vines, this unique white offers intense aromatics of pineapple, lemon drop and white flowers. The medium-bodied palate shows flavors of tropical and citrus fruits backed by vibrant acidity and subtle hints of white pepper. An ideal aperitif wine or pairing for spicy shrimp scampi.
Expanding Your Exploration of Italian Whites
I hope this list of benchmark Italian whites provides inspiration for dynamic bottles to open in 2024 and beyond. Italy offers so much diversity when it comes to white wines—whether you crave zesty minerality, rich texture, age-worthy complexity or crisp refreshment, the country delivers on all fronts. From little-known grapes like Petite Arvine to world-class expressions of Pinot Grigio, Italian whites showcase how dynamic this underrated category can be.
As you explore Italian whites, don’t be afraid to venture beyond the usual Pinot Grigio and Soave. Seek out small production wines from appellations like Etna Bianco, Collio, and Colli Orientali del Friuli, where innovative producers focus on indigenous varieties. When possible, chat with wine shop staff or sommeliers to zero in on unique bottlings made in limited quantities. And most importantly, keep an open and curious mindset, as you never know when the next great Italian white will turn up in your glass!
Conclusion
Over my career, I’ve expanded my Italian white wine expertise greatly by tasting whenever possible, reading regional production manuals, and taking trips to meet producers and walk their vineyards. As a Master Sommelier, I believe informed context is vital for appreciating any wine’s complexities and finer details. So take your time exploring all that Italian whites have to offer—the journey promises to be a captivating adventure for all senses. I hope you like reading “Top Italian White Wines Recommended by NYC Master Sommelier in 2024”.