Valtellina's denominations centre on Nebbiolo, known locally as Chiavennasca, which makes up at least 90%. Its 750 hectares of vineyards sit on rocky slopes from roughly 300 to nearly 800 metres, supported by 2,500 kilometres of dry-stone walls. Rosso di Valtellina offers the younger, fresher expression. Valtellina Superiore is deep, austere and tannic while retaining finesse and delicacy. It may name Maroggia, Sassella, Grumello, Inferno or Valgella, and requires at least 24 months of ageing, including one year in wood. Sforzato is a dry red passito made by drying selected Nebbiolo grapes. Valtellina has two DOCGs, one DOC and an IGT.
Elsewhere in Lombardia
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- Bergamo Hills1 producerBergamo Hills includes Scanzo, Terre del Colleoni and Valcalepio. Valcalepio has documented viticulture reaching back to Roman times.
- Brescia Hills (Botticino, Cellatica, Capriano)No producers listed yetBotticino, Cellatica and Capriano del Colle make up this Brescia Hills group. It includes a calcareous-clay plateau, difficult slopes and Botticino's small area beside Brescia.
- Franciacorta & Curtefranca8 producersBetween Brescia and Lake Iseo, Franciacorta covers about 200 square kilometres across 19 municipalities. Franciacorta and Curtefranca are the listed appellations.
- Garda & Lugana (Brescia/Mantova shore)7 producersThis Lombardia area includes Lugana, on the morainic plain south of Lake Garda. Lake conditions and clay soils support whites with freshness, mineral character and weight.
- Milan & Lodi PlainNo producers listed yetMilan & Lodi Plain is a Lombardia wine area with San Colombano al Lambro listed as its appellation.
- Oltrepò Pavese6 producersOltrepò Pavese lies south of the Po in the Northern Apennines. Its Metodo Classico tradition centres on blanc de noirs and rosé de noirs.
Producer profiles
Producers in Valtellina
- Azienda Agricola Menegola WalterValtellina estate bottling Chiavennasca from granite terraces since 2006, with 150 years of family viticulture behind it.
- Casa Vinicola Fratelli BettiniFifth-generation cantina in San Giacomo di Teglio, farming terraced Valtellina granite for Nebbiolo Sassella and a dried-grape Sforzato from the Spina vineyard.
- Nino NegriNino Negri farms terraced alpine Nebbiolo in Valtellina from its Chiuro base, ranging from Rosso di Valtellina to dried-grape Sfursat.
- Società Agricola Fay di Fay Marco & C. s.n.c.Fay is a family estate in Valgella, the westernmost subzone of Valtellina Superiore DOCG, where Nebbiolo grows on steep granite terraces above the Adda river valley in the Alpine province of Sondrio.
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- Tenuta ScerscéCristina Scarpellini founded Tenuta Scerscé in 2008 on a single leased hectare in Valtellina, Lombardy.