Emilia-Romagna is fourth among Italy’s twenty regions for wine production, with 33% of wines produced being DOC or DOCG.
The area of Emilia is mainly known for the different varieties of Lambrusco. In Romagna, instead, the main grapes are Albana, Trebbiano Romagnolo and Sangiovese.
The most popular wine produced in the region is Lambrusco, a sweet, sparkling wine as well as a type of grape grown in the Modena province.
On a yearly basis Emilia-Romagna produces 5 mio hectoliters of wine, and 58,000 hectares of land are dedicated to vineyards, almost half of the lying areas of the Po Valley. Two-thirds of the vineyards in the region grow in alluvial soil. However, vineyards are also found on the hills.
Viticulture of the Piacentini Hills (or Hills of Piacenza) draws origins and traditions from Piedmont and Oltrepò Pavese, characterised by Barbera and Croatina, from which the most representative red wine of the area is obtained, the Gutturnio DOC. Among the whites are the Ortrugo, made from the synonymous vine, and pleasant wines, also sparkling and semi-sparkling, based on Malvasia.
On the Colli di Parma (also known as Hills of Parma ) these same vines can be found, accompanied by many International varieties but it is above all the aromatic scent of Malvasia di Candia that expresses itself at a very pleasant level.
In Reggio Emilia and in the province of Modena there is the wine-symbol of Emilia's viticulture, the Lambrusco, with the fragrant freshness of the different varieties, which in the Reggiano showcases more compact colours and a somewhat more defined structure.
On the Colli Bolognesi a white grape variety has grown, historical and with considerable potential quality, the pignoletto from which the DOCG Colli Bolognesi Pignoletto Classico is obtained, in addition to some International red grapes that are giving excellent results especially in some particularly suitable areas .
Unlike Emilia, where lively and sparkling wines are preferred, Romagna has a wine scene characterised by still and more structured wines. The most cultivated red grape variety is Sangiovese, which especially in some reserves is giving great satisfaction. Among the white grapes, the most important are the Trebbiano Romagnolo and the Albana, an indigenous vine that has been appreciated for centuries, from which the excellent Passito is obtained, which is part of the DOCG Albana di Romagna.