Emilia-Romagna is one of Italy’s 20 administrative regions. It stretches from central into northern Italy, between Florence and Milan. Emilia-Romagna virtually bisects north central Italy, stretching from the Ligurian/Piemonte border inland in the west (Emilia) to the quite distinct Romagna in the east on the Adriatic coast (Romagna). Connecting Emilia and Romagna is the Via Emilia, the Roman road dating from 187BC and running from Piacenza in the west to Rimini on the Adriatic coast in the east (David Gleave MW: 1989, p.80). 

Much of the region lies in the deep, alluvial plain of the Po river, and contains some of Italy’s most fertile agricultural land. Its abundant agricultural output has created Italy’s richest cuisine,’ (Daniel Thomases and David Gleave MW: 2006, p.251). The Po separates Emilia-Romagna ‘from Lombardy and the rest of northern Italy, while the Apennines to the south define the border with Tuscany,’ (David Gleave MW: 1989, p.80). 

Native grapes: Emilia’s main native white wine grapes are Pignoletto and Malvasia di Candia Aromatica (Ian D’Agata, 2014 p.41). ‘Malvasia is prominent in Emilia, versatile, dry or sweet, still or frizzante,’ (David Gleave MW, 1989, p.90). In Emilia in the west the main native red grapes are the Lambruscos (Ian D’Agata, 2014 p.41), found on the plains between Parma and Bologna (David Gleave MW, 1989, p.82). Barbera is found in the Colli Piacentini to the west and in a thin strip of the Apennine foothills, running as far as Bologna,’ (David Gleave MW: 1989, p.82). Romagna’s main native red variety is Sangiovese, found in the Romagnolo hills,’ (David Gleave: 1989, p.82).

See also: Albana (w). | Albana Nera (r). | Beverdino. |  Centesimino (r). | Cornacchia (r). | Crova (r). | Ervi (). | Forcella (w). | Fortana (r). | Malbo Gentile (r). | Malvasia Rosa. | Marzabino (r). | Melara (w). | Molinelli (w). | Mostarino (r). | Ortrugo (w). | Santa Maria. | Sgavetta (r). | Trebbiano. | Uva del Fantini (r). | Uva Longanesi (r). | Verdea (w). | Verdetto. | Verucchiese.

Synonymous varieties: Ian D’Agata (2014 p.41) cites Bianca di Poviglio as synonymous with Trebbiano Toscano, Balsamina with Marzemino, and Occhio di Gatto with Friulano.

Wine stylesThe style of the wines is generally ‘frizzante’ in Emilia–’frothing reds with an attractive nippy sourness and chewiness, not just Lambrusco but also Barbera, Bonarda, Malvasia and others,’ says Oz Clarke (2015, p.113), and still wines in Romagna from Sangiovese and Trebbiano, closely following the Tuscan model.

Political geographyCapital city: Bologna (BO). Provinces (9): Bologna (BO). | Ferrara (FE). | Forlì (FO or FC). | Modena (MO). | Parma (PR). | Piacenza (PC). | Ravenna (RA). | Reggio Emilia (RE). | Rimini (RN).

 Wines & regions

DOCGs:  Colli Bolognesi Classico Pignoletto DOCG. | Romagna Albana DOCG.

DOCs: Bosco Eliceo DOC. | Colli Bolognesi DOC. | Colli d’Imola DOC. | Colli di Faenza DOC. | Colli di Parma DOC. | Colli di Rimini DOC. | Colli di Scandiano e di Canossa DOC. | Colli Piacentini DOC. | Colli Piacentini Monterosso Val d’Arda. | Colli Romagna Centrale DOC. | Gutturnio DOC. | Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC. | Lambrusco di Modena or Modena Lambrusco DOC. | Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro DOC. | Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce DOC. | Modena or Di Modena DOC. | Ortrugo dei Colli Piacentini or Ortrugo–Colli Piacentini DOC. | Reggiano DOC. | Reno DOC. | Romagna DOC. | Romagna Sangiovese DOC.

IGTs: Emilia IGT

Bibliography

Daniel Thomases and David Gleave MW in The Oxford Companion to Wine 3rd edition ed. Jancis Robinson MW (Oxford University Press, 2006), p.251.

David Gleave, The Wines of Italy (Salamander Books, London, 1989).

Dr Ian D’Agata, Native Wine Grapes of Italy (University of California Press, 2014), p.41. 

Oz Clarke, Oz Clarke Wine A-Z (Pavilion, 2015), p.113.