Emilia-Romagna

Emilia-Romagna is the perfect region for foodies. Parma ham? Aceto balsamico? Parmigiano Reggiano? All these specialities originate in this region of northern Italy. The capital, Bologna, is home to the oldest university in Europe. Above all, though, this is where the tenderest tortellini and the most delicate mortadella were perfected. Even Zuppa Inglese, a dessert made from sponge cake and sweet and airy cream, was supposedly invented here. Bologna proudly bears the nickname «La Grassa», meaning the lavish one. And Barilla, now a global company, started life as a pasta producer in the centre of Parma in 1877. In 1900 the company invested in a kneading machine and a dough press – revolutionary at the time. The rest is history.

Let’s be honest, with all this delicious food, winegrowing always fell a bit short here. Even though the Emilia-Romagna growing region comprises around 55,000 hectares of vineyards, you still have to search a little to find top winemakers and top wines. But they do exist. The wine region is divided into two very different parts. Emilia extends from the Po Valley to Tuscany. The soil here is fertile; it is the land of Lambrusco. This is a word that sends shivers down the spine of every connoisseur, even though there are some fabulous examples of this red wine that have nothing in common with the syrupy tipple that many will remember from their student days – albeit hazily, considering the effect it had. But this is Lambrusco for grown-ups: dry, robust wines that pair excellently with the local cuisine, such as Prosciutto di Parma, aged Parmesan or the mushroom dishes from the inland areas.

Romagna, on the other hand, is the mountainous country between the Adriatic Coast and the Apennines. It is a land of rugged landscapes, producing quite unconventional wines. Sangiovese is the main grape here. But it does not taste the way it does when grown in Tuscany. Wines from Romagna are bold, with pronounced tannins, and require several years of storage before they come into their own.

And here is an inside tip: Albana di Romagna. In 2009 it became the first white wine in Italy to get a docg classification. This is an indigenous grape variety that yields dry yet substantial wines.

The Via Emilia is the best option for a culinary and oenological pilgrimage through the Emilia-Romagna wine region. This ancient Roman road leads from Piacenza to Rimini and passes through Parma, Reggio, Modena and Bologna on the way. The UNESCO-listed cities of Ferrara and Ravenna are also on the route.

Romagna Albana, Colli Bolognesi Classico Pignoletto

Bosco Eliceo, Colli Bolognesi, Colli d’Imola, Colli di Faenza, Colli di Parma, Colli di Rimini, Colli di Scandiano e di Canossa, Colli Piacentini, Colli Romagna Centrale, Gutturnio, Lambrusco di Sorbara, Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro, Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce, Modena, Ortrugo dei Colli Piacentini, Reggiano, Reno, Romagna

Balìa di Zola, Leone Conti, Stefano Berti, Tre Monti, Villa di Corlo, Il Poggiarello, Zerbina