Region: Emilia-Romagna

Zone:

Colli Piacentini DOC

The northern slopes of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, specifically the regional border between Lombardy and Emilia and the provincial border between the cities of Reggio Emilia and Parma, cover a relatively homogenous wine region. The area is called Colli Piacentini DOC.

The terrain consists mainly of marl, sandstone, yellow sand and clay, and the area is also home to another DOC, namely Colli di Parma.

Historically, the wine was known in the Piacenza municipalities in the period between 2000 to 700 B.C. facts indicated by the fossil grape seeds and vine roots. The former inhabitants of Liguria were heavily influenced by the Greek wine-growing methods, but in the end the Romans were those who put the historic footprint, leaving their “gutturnium”, a legendary silver wine jug, which was later the name of the most important wine in Colli Piacentini, Gutturnio DOC.

Viticulture is also pretty well documented in the Roman period. In a debate in the Senate, Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) criticized his political rival, Lucius Calpurnius Piso, a Piacenza native, for excessively honoring the wine of his home province.

Later, around the 13^th century, the Piacenza wines began to build a fine reputation for themselves, and they were even exported to France. In 1391, the quality of the wine was improved even more by introducing very restrictive rules that would ensure the authenticity and that would discourage messing with the wine.

As so often before, we should just mention the alcohol happy church people. In his description of Italian wine, Sante Lancelario, Pope Paul III’s cellar master, praised the Piacenza wines. The cellar master’s tribute was followed by Italian experts and literary figures alike during the following centuries.

Colli Piacentini is Emilia-Romagna’s westernmost DOC and is one of Italy’s largest zones, considered to form a class by itself. The number of grape varieties alone is something special and close to astronomical.

Thus, it produces 20 different types of wine, including the Novello’s, most of them being sparkling (Frizzante or Vivace) or sweet (Abboccato). The sparkling ones are usually found in the local market, while the still types are usually exported.

Read more about the wines from Colli Piacentini DOC by clicking i the top menu in the right side.