Rosso di Valtellina (Italy)
Rosso di Valtellina is a red wine from Valtellina in Lombardia.
It is made from minimum 90% Nebbiolo grapes.
Valtellina Flavors
Valtellina tastes something between Pinot Noir and Syrah.
Raspberry, Sour Red Cherry, Wild Cherries, and Cranberries are typical Valtellina flavors, with hints of Forest floor, Flowers, Herbs, Licorice or Anise, and other Spices.
 Raspberry |
 Sour Cherry |
 Wild Cherry |
 Cranberry |
 Herbs |
 Red Rose |
 Violet |
 Licorice |
Oak added Flavors
 Tar |
 Mushroom |
 Truffle |
 Chocolate |
 Coffee |
 Spices |
 Tobacco |
 Leather |
Valtellina Profile
Valtellina wines are full-bodied with strong acidity and high tannins:
| BODY: | Medium - Full |
| TANNINS: | Medium - High |
| FRUIT: | Medium Plus |
| ACIDITY: | Medium - High |
| ALCOHOL: | 13-14% ABV |
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Serving temperatures: 16-17°C (61-63°F) |
Valtellina Food Pairing
Valtellina is a powerful red wine. It pairs best with strong and rich flavors.
A classic pairing is white truffles, as Valtellina mirrors the earthy, gamey quality of the truffles.
Truffle |
 Pasta |
 Risotto |
 Rich Pizza |
 Charcuterie |
 Salami |
 Duck |
 Goose |
 Pork |
 Lamb |
 Veal |
 Meat |
 Rabbit |
 Wild Boar |
 Deer |
 Hamburger |
Excellent Pairings
Truffle and Mushroom Dishes.
Risotto with Truffle. Mushroom Pizza.
Pasta with strong Tomato or Truffle Sauce.
Rich Charcuterie. Salami.
Rich Stews. Beef Stew. Ragù. Stroganof.
Meat Pie. Shepherd's Pie.
Duck Brest. Confit. Roast Goose.
Game. Rabbit. Wild Boar. Deer.
Roasted Beef. Lamb. Veal. Liver.
Read Meat. Fillet Steak.
Piemonte Spesialities
Risotto al Tartufo Bianco (White Truffles).
Carne Cruda (Beef Tartare).
Manzo Stufato alla Piemontese (Beef Stew).
Osso Buco (Veal Shanks braised with Vegetables).
Stufato di Coniglio (Rabbit Stew).
Lombardian Specialities
Risotto alla Milanese.
Pizzoccheri (Alpine Fresh Tagliatelle).
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Italian Wine Laws DOC(G)
Italian wine law and labels was introduced in 1963. They were designed to copy the French AOC/AC system.
Strict rules defines grape varieties, yield limits, grape ripeness, winemaking procedures, barrel and bottle maturation, and tasting procedures. Each bottle must have a numbered government seal.
The DOCG was created in 1980 in response to the criticisms that there were too many DOCs and their quality was variable.
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DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata)
Regulates production areas, grape varieties, bottle and barrel aging, alcohol levels, and vinification techniques. -
DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita)
The highest classification. Same regulations as DOC. In addition, each DOCG-labeled wine must be bottled within the production area and pass a wine quality tasting panel.
Valtellina DOC(G)
Valtellina produces 3 categories of Nebbiolo wines:
- Valtellina Superiore DOCG
- Rosso di Valtellina DOC
- Sforzato di Vallentina DOCG
| Rosso di Valtellina DOC 1968 |
Minimum 90% Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) Maximum 10% other Lombardia grapes Maximum harvest 10 tonnes/ha Aged minimum 6 months Minimum alcohol 11% |
| Valtellina Superiore DOCG 1998 |
Minimum 90% Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) Maximum 10% other Lombardia grapes Maximum harvest 8 tonnes/ha Aged minimum 2 years (3 for Riserva) minimum 1 year in barrel Minimum alcohol 12% |
| Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG 2003 |
Amarone style dry passito wine Minimum 90% Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) Maximum 10% other Lombardia grapes Aged minimum 20 months between barrel and bottle Minimum alcohol 14% |
About Valtellina
"A valley surrounded by high and terrible mountains. But they make really powerful wines." was the summary provided by Leonardo da Vinci in his sketch collection "Codice Atlantico".
Valtellina is a valley in the Lombardy region of northern Italy on the border to Switzerland. It is one of Italy's smallest wine regions, with dramatic high altitude vineyard landscapes, angled as solar panels to the south, on steep slopes and tiny terraces.
Most of the wines in the region are red wines produced on the grape Chiavennasca, a local Nebbiolo varity named after the city Chiavenna.
Italy's greatest grape Nebbiolo, has the local name Chiavennasca in Lombardia, Spanna in northern Piemonte, and Picotener in Val d’Aosta.
Valtellina Wine Road
Valtellina Strada del Vino is a 70 km panoramic road through the terraced vineyards where "Nebbiolo delle Alpi" is made.
The road runs from Ardenno to Tirano in the valley.
On the road, there are wineries that provides wine tasting, guided tours, and the possibility to stay overnight, discover traditional dishes "like grandma used to", while drinking local Valtellina wines, and meat the locals who work in the mountains.
Black Grapes |
White Grapes |
17% Croatina |
13% Chardonnay |
Red Wines |
White Wines |
Bonarda |
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Rosè Wines |
Sparkling Wines |
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Soil |
Climate |
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Lombardia DOCG Regions:
- Franciacorta DOCG
- Moscato di Scanzo DOCG
- Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG
- Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG
- Valtellina Superiore DOCG