Wine tourism in Emilia Romagna

In Emilia-Romagna, the tradition of wine – from the Colli Piacentini to the Rimini coast – is an integral part of every holiday experience, whether you’re visiting the inland villages, cycling through the region’s ‘Food Valley’ (unique in the world with its 46 PDO and PGI products), indulging in remise en forme at one of the region’s 23 spa centres, or exploring the splendid cities of art in Emilia-Romagna, rich in history and home to numerous UNESCO sites and designations.

In 2025, the region ranked amongst the top destinations with the strongest appeal for gourmets, thanks to an integrated system that combines robust production chains, the region’s appeal and over a thousand annual events across the territory, such as the Slow Wine Fair in Bologna, ‘Cantine Aperte’ throughout the region, and the Grape and Lambrusco Grasparossa Festival in Castelvetro, in the Modena area. 

Alongside food, wine is a fundamental pillar, with a production of around 5.37 million hectolitres. The six main wine-growing areas – from the Colli Piacentini to Romagna – are home to iconic grape varieties such as Lambrusco, Sangiovese, Albana, Pignoletto, Gutturnio and Fortana, helping to define a rich, diverse and increasingly quality-oriented wine-growing identity. The promotion of this heritage is entrusted to the Enoteca Regionale di Dozza, situated in the fortress of the same name and famous for the Biennale del Muro dipinto, which for over 30 years has transformed its streets into an open-air art gallery and, from 17 to 19 September, will host the 19th National Festival of Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages. 

In Emilia-Romagna, the journey naturally turns into a culinary experience thanks to a widespread heritage involving over 20 regional cycle routes such as the Food Valley Bike (70 km through the Parma area, a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy), 10 Wine and Flavours Routes and 22 Trails within the regional circuit – genuine itineraries through landscapes, villages, farms and sites of gastronomic culture – complemented by a network of 27 Museums of Taste and Museums of Rural Life. Among these, Casa Artusi in Forlimpopoli stands as a national landmark for Italian culinary culture, offering cooking lessons and in-depth sessions on gastronomic culture. This system is also reflected in the region’s Michelin-starred restaurants. Emilia-Romagna boasts a total of 25 Michelin-starred restaurants (including the three-star establishment run by one of the world’s finest chefs, Massimo Bottura), which rely on small-scale, ultra-short supply chains and the painstaking revival of ancient native crops. Each dish thus becomes an authentic narrative of a vibrant landscape. The region’s offering is further enriched by exclusive experiences, which can also be booked in the intimate setting of country houses, historic wine cellars, dairies and oil mills, or at the very places of production – such as vineyards, olive groves, citrus orchards or vegetable gardens – to create a direct connection between the landscape, the produce and the table, right through to gourmet picnics set amidst natural landscapes.

1. Picnics and Dinners in the Vineyards
   During spring and summer, many farms and historic estates in the Colli Bolognesi, the Marecchia Valley in the Rimin Province and the hills of Faenza organise sunset aperitifs and dinners amongst the rows of vines, featuring typical PDO/PGI produce. 
2. Wine Trekking and Cycle Tourism
   Routes on foot or by e-bike along the Wine and Flavours Routes, such as the Via del Sangiovese or the trails of the Vena del Gesso Romagnola (with scenic stops such as the Tower of Oriolo and Brisighella), combining hiking with a visit to a winery including a tasting. 
3. Tourist Grape Harvest
   Hands-on autumn experiences where visitors can work alongside winemakers during the grape harvest and discover the secrets of winemaking. 
4. Masterclasses organised by the Enoteca Regionale di Dozza
   Guided tours to discover the region’s iconic grape varieties, from Albana di Romagna DOCG (Italy’s first DOCG white wine) to Pignoletto dei Colli Bolognesi, Gutturnio from Piacenza and the various expressions of Lambrusco.  
5. Wine & Food Pairing in Historic Markets and Restaurants
   Food and wine tours dedicated to pairing regional wines with the 46 DOP/IGP-certified products of Emilia-Romagna (Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, Olio dei Colli di Bologna PGI and typical cured meats). 

• Luciano Pavarotti was not only a truly great tenor (one of the finest of all time), but also a gourmet who loved the finest food and wine of his beloved region. He coined a poetic and highly fitting description of Lambrusco: “A wild and unrefined sparkling wine”. 
• Albana, known as far back as 400 AD, is, together with Sangiovese, the wine that best represents Romagna, and was the first white wine in Italy to be awarded DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) status in 1987. 
• A fascinating legend, linked to a plaque in the village of Santarcangelo di Romagna, in the province of Rimini, attributes the origin of the name “Sangiovese” to a group of Capuchin or Franciscan friars from Monte Giove. Whilst offering their wine to a distinguished Roman guest, when asked what this ruby-red nectar was called, a friar replied that it was ‘the blood of Jupiter’ (Sanguis Jovis), from which the name of the grape variety is said to have derived. 

• Albana
• Centesimino
• Famoso
• Fortana
• Gutturnio
• Lambrusco
• Longanesi
• Malvasia
• Ortrugo
• Pagadebit
• Pignoletto
• Rebola
• Sangiovese
• Spergola
• Trebbiano

For 2027, Emilia-Romagna offers a full calendar of wine tourism experiences: 

• Slow Wine Fair, Bologna (21–23 February 2027): the international fair dedicated to good, clean and fair wine, organised by BolognaFiere in collaboration with Slow Food. 
• Cantine Aperte in Emilia-Romagna (29–30 May 2027): Guided tastings of regional wines, visits to vineyards and historic wineries, walks amongst the vines, and entertainment featuring music and local cuisine. 
• Calici di Stelle (August 2027): A summer event taking place across the region’s main villages and cities of art (including Castell’Arquato, Brisighella, Dozza and the hills of Romagna), featuring evening outdoor tastings, live music and guided tours under the stars. 
• National Festival of Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages (Dozza, 17–19 September 2027): The village of Dozza is home to the Regional Wine Cellar and will host the 19th edition of the national festival. The event will combine art, landscape and food and wine, showcasing local wine production directly amongst the village’s cellars and squares.

• enotecaemiliaromagna.it