Emilia Romagna
Emilia-Romagna is a rich, fertile wine region of northern Italy, and one of the country's most prolific, with over 55,000 hectares producing 473 million litres of wine annually. At 150 miles (240km), it spans almost the entire width of the northern Italian peninsula from Tuscany and Marche to the south and Piedmont, Lombardy and Veneto to the north. Emilia-Romagna's viticultural heritage dates back to around the seventh century BC. Around 15% of wine produced in Emilia-Romagna falls under the region's 22 DOC titles, and a tiny fraction under its two DOCGs Albana di Romagna and Colli Bolognesi Classico Pignoletto. Wine production is divided evenly between white and red grape varieties, with Trebbiano and Sangiovese alone accounting for almost half the varietals grown in the region. Rarer varieties, such as the white Pagadebit and red Cagnina, are more obscure, but highly appreciated locally. A large percentage of the grapes grown in the region are used to produce sparkling wines, either frizzante or spumante, of which the most notable are from the five Lambrusco DOCs: Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce; Lambrusco di Sorbara; Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetra; Lambrusco di Modena; and Reggiano.