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Emilia-Romagna

Emilia-Romagna wines

HOME OF EFFERVESCENT AND STILL WINES

Emilia-Romagna is the third largest region in Italy for wine production, much of which is made on the plains by Italy’s winemaking giants, but there are also age-old private wineries and emerging vignerons. Emilia and Romagna are totally distinct in terms of wine: Emilia is the home of slightly effervescent wines, particularly Lambrusco, whereas Romagna produces still wines. The grape varieties cultivated in the two areas are also different. In Emilia: Barbera, Croatina, Cabernet, Merlot, Malvasia di Candia, Pignoletto, Spergola, Ortrugo, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. In Romagna, on the other hand: Sangiovese, Albana and Trebbiano.

ROMAGNA WINES

The most widely produced wine of Romagna is the red Romagna Sangiovese DOC, which comes from the hills between the Apennines and the coast. It is available in both young and Riserva versions. Among the whites, Albana-based wines excel today. Albana di Romagna DOCs are white wines available in a variety of styles: vinified in steel, in wood, macerated, dry, medium-sweet or raisin wine and even spumante. More popular but simpler are the Trebbiano di Romagna DOC wines. Last but not least is the sweet sparkling wine Romagna Cagnina DOC, produced in a restricted area from the grape variety of the same name, the ideal accompaniment for roasted chestnuts.

EMILIA WINES

Parma, Reggio-Emilia and Modena make up the so-called Lambrusco country. Colli di Parma DOC wines can be red or white with many types, but the most characteristic is Malvasia based, again, on Malvasia di Candia Aromatica. Lambrusco represents a world of ancient red grape varieties, including Lambrusco di Sorbara, rich in floral aromas with a high level of acidity; Lambrusco Grasparossa; Lambrusco Salamino, similar to Grasparossa. Lambrusco Maestri also has an intense colour and is, above all, the most fruity and creamy; Lambrusco Marani with floral and fruity aromas. A family of grape varieties but also of designations, in which the various Lambruscos express themselves on their own or in blends of grape varieties; they can be dry, semi-dry, medium-sweet or sweet wines. Almost always sparkling, sometimes even spumante. In Reggio Emilia, Reggiano DOC is the lightest Lambrusco and has a Lambrusco Marani base. Typical of Modena are Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC, fresh and subtle, Lambrusco Salamino di Santacroce DOC and Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro DOC, more deeply coloured and structured. The wine Bosco Eliceo DOC Fortana, the red wine made between Ferrara and Ravenna, is comparable to Lambrusco. 

In the province of Piacenza, the style of the wines is reminiscent of that of the area it borders on: Oltrepò Pavese. Gutturnio DOC - often sparkling - is a wine made from Barbera and Croatina; the white wine Ortrugo dei Colli Piacentini DOC,  still or sparkling - with a citrus fragrance; Colli Piacentini DOC wines include types made with international grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, or reds made with Barbera and Bonarda (as Croatina is called here); the most characteristic wine is that based on the native grape variety Malvasia di Candia Aromatica.

A real treat from the Colli Bolognesi area is the white Montù grape variety, which is used to produce Reno Montuni DOC, in dry, sweet, sparkling or spumante versions. The most widely-produced Colli Bolognesi DOC wines are the whites made from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Blanc and the reds made from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Barbera. But the most characteristic and prestigious is Colli Bolognesi Classico Pignoletto DOCG. The Pignoletto grape variety which, incidentally, has just recently been renamed Grechetto Gentile, is a white grape with floral, fruity fragrances, and a slightly green aroma of fresh almonds. 

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