17 Italian Wines to Keep You Cool All Summer Long 😎

A Personal Note from Rome: Summer, Wine, and What We Really Crave

Every summer in Italy has a rhythm all its own. The cicadas hum. The midday light is nearly blinding. And the meals? Always lighter, cooler, and slower. In my home just outside Rome, I often find myself reaching into the fridge not for water (though we all need it), but for wine—a crisp, mineral-laced white or a delicate rosé that feels like a sea breeze in a glass. That’s the joy of summer wines in Italy. They’re not just refreshing. They reflect the place they come from, and they pair beautifully with everything summer puts on our tables: chilled seafood, marinated vegetables, fresh cheeses, grilled meats.

This newsletter grew out of a recent Flavor of Italy podcast episode with Italian wine expert Cynthia Chaplin. The conversation was so packed with knowledge, history, and delicious detail that I knew it deserved more than just a blog post. I wanted to dive deeper, explore the grapes and producers Cynthia mentioned, and offer you not just a list, but a full guide to the best wines for summer in Italy—and how to enjoy them wherever you are.

Frappato wine Sicily - Photo credit