Viticulture in Lombardy is ancient and dates back to the Etruscans, Venetians, Ligurians and Romans. Today it covers about 30,000 hectares.
It starts from the vineyards of the great Nebbiolo (also known as Chiavennasca) in the Valtellina valley. There the vineyards are in the northeast, located on the slopes of the Alps up to about 1,000 meters a.s.l..
Then it descends to the plains in Oltrepò Pavese, an area between the provinces of Pavia and Alessandria, known for massive productions of red wines. Here the most widespread grape variety is Barbera, followed by Croatina, Bonarda and Uva Rara as well as Pinot Noir. White wines are made from Riesling Italico, Moscati and Malvasia grapes.
We continue in an easterly direction and find Franciacorta, between Bergamo and Brescia, below Lake Iseo. For the past 40 years, it is the land of producing fine Metodo Classico sparkling wines with the same name: Franciacorta.
We then meet the Lombard shore of Lake Garda and the Mantua Hills. Groppello, Barbera, Marzemino and Sangiovese vines are grown here. Lombardy offers an impressive and rich variety of traditions, grapes, soils and climates that allow the production of high quality wines in Northern Italy.
