IT - Central - Emilia Romagna

Answer 1

Known for being the ‘stomach’ of Italy (Parma ham, vinegar & rich foods)

Lowlands (Piacenza to Ravenna – south of river Po): damp weather with lots of fog

Mountains & hills (at the Apennine foothills): good air circulation so climate less humid

Lowlands (Piacenza to Ravenna): plains with alluvial fertile soils

Mountains & hills (at the Apennine foothills): more barren soils of residual pebbles and red loam; up to 350m hi

Answer 2

Reds (57% of production)

1. Sangiovese di Romagna – 10% 1.
2. Reputation for lower quality but better clones as good as Sangiovese di Toscana
3. Best comes from the Apennines foothills

Others: Cabernet, Bonarda, Barbera

Answer 3

Whites (43% of production)

1. Trebbiano di Romagna (8%)
2. Similar to Trebbiano di Toscano i.e. hi productivity & little flavour
3. Used in light, soft dry whites in variety of styles
4. Albana
5. 3rd most important grape in Emilia-Romagna
6. Best in red clay hills east of Forli & Bertinoro
7. Dry wines are characterless. Dessert wines are more interesting

Answer 4

61,000ha for 6.8m hl production - #4 largest producing region in Italy

Very high yields permitted and hence produced including for DOC & DOCG

Answer 5

Some of the key DOC/DOCGs (excluding Lambrusco):

1. Colli Piacentini

1. Western edge of the region; similar climate to Oltrepo Pavese in Lombardy
2. Good quality wine made from Barbera. New plantings of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir & Cab Sauv.
3. Some producers like La Stoppa & La Tosa drive quality upwards.

2. Sangiovese di Romagna DOC (R)

1. South-east corner of Romagna between Bologna & Rimini; sandstone & clay soils & hi summer temperature
2. Best examples around Forli e.g. Umberto Cesar’s Cabernet-Sangiovese ‘Liana’

3. Trebbiano di Romagna DOC (W)

4. Albana di Romagna DOCG (W)

1. First white DOCG in Italy (1986); covers similar but slightly smaller area as Sangiovese di Romagna
2. 4 different styles: Sacco, amabile, dolce & passito. Hi yields rule defeats the purpose of DOCG

Answer 6

6.8m hl/yr production - #4 largest wine region in Italy but only 15% of DOC & most of it is Lambrusco

Strong cooperative influence w the largest cooperative controlling 27,000ha (>Germany’s vineyard area)