34 phrases · Levels: A1A2B1B2
Benvenuti alla nostra cantina!
Welcome to our winery!
You'll hear this when you arrive at a winery. Knowing it helps you respond naturally and sets a warm tone for the tasting.
Si annusa prima di assaggiare.
You smell it before tasting.
A guide or sommelier will say this when pouring the first wine. Knowing the instruction lets you participate correctly and confidently.
Questo vino è secco o abboccato?
Is this wine dry or slightly sweet?
Ask before tasting if you have a preference for dry or sweet wines. Also useful when you want to understand the wine's style better.
Da quale vitigno è prodotto questo vino?
Which grape variety is this wine made from?
Ask your host or sommelier when you want to understand the grape behind the wine. Italy has over 500 native grape varieties — many are unique to a single region.
Di che annata è?
What vintage is it?
Ask when examining a bottle or when the host mentions a particular wine's quality. Vintage year matters enormously in Italian wine — especially for Barolo and Brunello.
Come influisce il terreno sul gusto del vino?
How does the soil influence the taste of the wine?
Ask a winemaker during a vineyard tour or cellar visit. This question opens deep conversations about terroir — one of the most beloved topics for Italian winemakers.
Con quale piatto abbinerebbe questo vino?
What dish would you pair with this wine?
Ask the sommelier or winemaker during a tasting. Understanding food pairing is central to Italian wine culture and will deepen your appreciation of both food and wine.
La vostra cantina produce vino biologico?
Does your winery produce organic wine?
Ask at any small or medium winery. Many Italian producers have converted to organic or biodynamic farming — they're proud of it and will elaborate at length.
A che temperatura va servito?
At what temperature should it be served?
Ask when buying a bottle to take home, or when curious about why a particular wine is served at a specific temperature. Getting this right dramatically affects how the wine tastes.
Posso acquistare una bottiglia per portarla a casa?
Can I buy a bottle to take home?
At the end of any tasting session. Most Italian wineries expect you to buy at least one bottle — it is considered good manners and supports the producer directly.
Cosa sono i tannini?
What are tannins?
Ask a sommelier or winemaker if you keep hearing the word and want to understand it. This question will never make you look bad — it shows you're genuinely engaged.
Questo bianco è molto acido?
Is this white wine very acidic?
Ask before tasting if you're sensitive to acidity, or after tasting to confirm what you're perceiving. High acidity is actually a quality in Italian whites — it means freshness and longevity.
Ha un finale lungo e persistente.
It has a long and persistent finish.
Use when commenting on a wine at the end of a tasting. The length of the finish (finale or persistenza aromatica intensa, PAI) is one of the most important quality indicators.
Qual è la DOCG di questa zona?
What is the DOCG of this area?
Ask to understand the local wine classification and what standards the winery meets. DOCG is Italy's highest quality designation and knowing which ones exist where shows genuine interest.
Perché si fa la decantazione?
Why do you decant wine?
Ask when you see a sommelier decanting wine, or when a winemaker suggests opening a bottle well in advance. A common and interesting question at any serious tasting.
Questo Prosecco è Brut o Extra Dry?
Is this Prosecco Brut or Extra Dry?
Ask when ordering or tasting Prosecco. The sweetness classification matters and is often misunderstood — Brut is actually drier than Extra Dry in Prosecco terminology.
Cosa indicano le lacrime del vino?
What do the wine's legs indicate?
Ask a sommelier when you notice the rivulets running down the inside of the glass after swirling. This is a common question that reveals something about the wine's alcohol content.
Possiamo visitare la cantina sotterranea?
Can we visit the underground cellar?
Ask at any winery that has historical underground cellars. Many Italian wineries are built over ancient Roman or medieval cellars — a tour adds enormously to the experience.
Quali sono le regioni vinicole più importanti d'Italia?
What are the most important wine regions of Italy?
Ask a sommelier or winemaker when you want an overview of Italian wine geography. This question invites a passionate and informative response — every winemaker will defend their own region.
Cos'è esattamente il vino naturale?
What exactly is natural wine?
Ask at a wine bar or natural wine producer. The term is controversial — no legal definition exists, and opinions are strong. Prepare for a passionate answer.
Il colore di questo rosso è molto intenso.
The colour of this red is very intense.
Use when observing the colour of a wine against the light or a white background. Colour analysis is the first step of the Italian tasting ritual.
Perché si fa girare il bicchiere?
Why do you swirl the glass?
Ask a sommelier or fellow taster if you're new to wine tasting. Swirling releases aromatics and is one of the most recognisable wine tasting gestures.
Cos'è un Super Tuscan?
What is a Super Tuscan?
Ask when you see names like Sassicaia, Tignanello, or Ornellaia on a menu or in a cellar. These wines broke Italian wine law to create something extraordinary.
Questo vino sa di tappo.
This wine is corked.
Use when a wine has the musty, wet cardboard smell of cork taint (TCA contamination). Any sommelier will replace a corked bottle immediately — don't hesitate to say this.
Da quanti anni produce vino questa famiglia?
How many years has this family been making wine?
A great conversation opener with any family winery. Italian winemaking families often have centuries of history and are enormously proud of their heritage.
Cos'è il vino arancione?
What is orange wine?
Ask in wine bars (enoteca) or at producers in Friuli, Emilia, or Sicily. Orange wine is trending globally and Italy is its spiritual home.
Avete una selezione di vini locali da portare via?
Do you have a selection of local wines to take away?
Ask at a winery shop (enoteca della cantina) or wine bar after a tasting. Taking local wine home is the best souvenir from any Italian region.
Avete un club abbonamento per ricevere i vini a casa?
Do you have a subscription club to receive wines at home?
Ask at a winery you love at the end of a tasting. Many Italian small producers now offer wine subscriptions — a great way to support them and keep receiving their wines.
Questo formaggio va bene con il vino che stiamo degustando?
Does this cheese go well with the wine we're tasting?
When the winery serves cheese during a tasting. Understanding the pairing reasons deepens both experiences. Italian winemakers are equally passionate about cheese.
La forma del bicchiere influisce davvero sul gusto?
Does the shape of the glass really influence the taste?
Ask when you notice different glass shapes being used for different wines, or when a sommelier changes glasses between wines. A fascinating topic that reveals real science.
Perché il Barolo si chiama il Re dei vini?
Why is Barolo called the King of wines?
Ask any Piedmontese winemaker and prepare for a 20-minute answer. Barolo's status as Italy's greatest wine is a matter of deep regional pride.
Il Vin Santo si fa con l'uva appassita?
Is Vin Santo made from dried grapes?
Ask at a Tuscan winery or during a dessert wine tasting. Vin Santo is central to Tuscan hospitality and understanding its production enriches the experience enormously.
Qual è la differenza tra il Prosecco e lo Champagne?
What is the difference between Prosecco and Champagne?
A very common question at any Italian sparkling wine tasting. The answer is genuinely interesting and Italians take pride in explaining it.
Grazie per questa degustazione eccezionale. Torneremo sicuramente!
Thank you for this exceptional tasting. We'll definitely come back!
Use at the end of any winery visit to express genuine appreciation. Italian winemakers pour enormous passion into every visitor — acknowledging it means a great deal.