Autumnal mood over the vineyards of the Emilia-Romagna regionAutumnal mood over the vineyards of the Emilia-Romagna region

A gourmand’s paradise

Balìa di Zola

Autumn mood over the vineyards of the Balìa di Zola winery in Emilia-RomagnaAutumn mood over the vineyards of the Balìa di Zola winery in Emilia-Romagna

The mini-vineyard with big ambitions and vines over 50 years old.


Villa di Corlo

Blue sky above the vines at Villa di Corlo in Emilia-RomagnaBlue sky above the vines at Villa di Corlo in Emilia-Romagna

A winemaker with a melodious name and great skill: Maria Antonietta Munari Giacobazzi.


Il Poggiarello

Vineyard at Il Poggiarello in Emilia-RomagnaVineyard at Il Poggiarello in Emilia-Romagna

Where Italian tradition and passion combine to create exquisite wine.

You can find the complete package in Emilia-Romagna: delectable wines and all sorts of culinary treats.

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.

More than just Lambrusco

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.

Sights with a gourmand bonus

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.

docg areas in Emilia-Romagna

Romagna Albana, Colli Bolognesi Classico Pignoletto

doc areas in Emilia-Romagna

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

Key producers

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

Wines from Emilia-Romagna
  1. - +
    Italy, Emilia-Romagna
    2024
    100 % Lambrusco Grasparossa

    75 cl
    Olimpia – Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro doc, Villa di Corlo
    CHF12.00
  2. - +
    Italy, Emilia-Romagna
    2023
    100 % Sangiovese

    75 cl
    Balitore – Romagna doc Sangiovese superiore, Balìa di Zola
    CHF14.50
  3. - +
    Italy, Emilia-Romagna
    2024
    100 % Ortrugo

    75 cl
    Ortrugo gli Spaghi – Ortrugo dei colli piacentini DOC frizzante, Il Poggiarello
    CHF17.90
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