With the exception of Casola Valsenio and the small town of Zattaglia, where vineyards rise up to 450 meters, the heart of production of Brisighella can be divided into three distinct sections.
The first one, starting from the north, presents soils that range from clayey-ferrous to decidedly more calcareous: the result is a gritty, vigorous and warm Sangiovese. The second area, which surrounds the town of Brisighella, is characterized by marly-arenaceous terrain with elevation that rises up to 400 meters, yielding less muscular and tannic reds endowed with greater peculiarity. In the third area, situated closer to the slopes of the Apennines, viticulture is intensively practiced along the marly-sandy terraces near the bottom of the Lamone valley: the wines produced reveal a somewhat sinewy and mineral fruit, a sharp tannic structure and a sapid vein that tones down the important alcohol content.
A vast sub-zone stretching along the valley of the Lamone River (and a small area along the Sintria River).
180-500 m asl
From Faenza heading south, 3 types of soil can be found at different altitudes: red soils, yellow sands and clays from the badlands; chalky marl; arenaceous marl.
The Rocca Manfrediana
Known as the Rocca Manfrediana or Rocca dei Veneziani, the structure was built at the beginning of the 14th century and underwent an initial restoration carried out by Astorgio Manfredi and then by the Venetians. The Rocca rises on the second of three rocky ridges overlooking the town of Brisighella, on a panoramic position with respect to the Vena del Gesso and the Lamone valley. Following restoration that brought the structure back to its original grandeur, the Rocca Manfrediana is an excellent example of Medieval military mastery. Today, it serves as a museum dedicated to the relationship between Man and Gypsum.
The area of Bertinoro, also known as “the Balcony of Romagna”, rises on calcareous, organogenic and gentle hills, between 100 and 250 m asl.
100-350 m asl
Castrocaro boasts 3 historically suitable areas that remarkably differ from one another.
80-300 m asl
Viticulture in Cesena is carried out in two distinct areas.
60-250 m asl
Sangiovese has been intensely cultivated in the area of Rimini up until 1860 but was then abandoned because not deemed to have enough alcohol content.
An extensive sub-zone stretching along the Via Aemilia, between the cities of Imola and Bologna.
60-400 m asl
The Rubicone Valley boasts hills that resemble terraces overlooking the sea. The winegrowing area is divided into three different sections and are located between 100 and 300 meters asl.
60-300 m asl
Marzeno stretches along the valley of the homonymous river, particularly along its final part.
100-200 m asl
Encircled by Bertinoro and Predappio, on the right of the Bidente River, Meldola has the least vineyard area among the 16 sub-zones of the denomination despite being a vast territory.
100-150 m asl
The largest sub-area of the denomination and one of the least cultivated with vines.
160-400 m asl
A renowned sub-zone endowed with a valuable terroir, a place where viticulture is exclusively practiced on the hills, reaching up to 500 meters of altitude, on sedimentary soils predominantly made up of sandstone.
300-600 m asl
Stretching halfway between Faenza and Forlì, the area is home to high-quality viticulture at the foothills, around 70 meters asl, as well as on the hills.
60-200 m asl
Predappio hints to a mineral and long-lived Sangiovese distinguished by vigorous tannins and not by young fruit.
120-400 m asl
San Clemente aims to characterize the hottest area of Rimini, with its gypsum and more colorful clays, presenting well-composed wines endowed with great acidity.
The sub-zone of Serra can be divided into four sections. The first, starting from the north, has fertile, deep and clayey-ferrous soils that give rise to fruity and lively reds.
Verucchio stretches along the valley of the Marecchia River, from the Via Aemilia to the Apennines.
50-450 m asl