Castrocaro boasts 3 historically suitable areas that remarkably differ from one another.
The village of Sadurano presents clayey soils from the badlands mixed with sandy veins, and the wines produced are distinguished by power and vigorous tannins. Terra del Sole, located at a lower altitude and characterized by slightly calcareous but averagely deep, clayey soils, brings out Sangiovese with intense fruit, delicate tannic texture, remarkable warmth and fullness. And Bagnolo, with its badland formations, altitudes that exceed 250 meters and solid yet less fertile, clayey-limestone soils: the resulting red wines are more tannic and mineral, less fruity but more herbaceous, requiring a little more time for evolution.
Includes the territories crossed by the Montone River: the main area covers the entire municipality of Castrocaro Terme-Terra del Sole, as well as the towns of Dovadola and Rocca San Casciano
80-300 m asl
Prevalently ocher-colored limestone clay with «spungone» outcrops, gray clays from the badlands prevail in Bagnolo and Sadurano, while marl and sandstone appear in the higher lands
The Rocca of Castrocaro
The first record of the fortification in CastroAukario, then «Castrocaro», dates back to 961, when the Rocca hosted Saxon king, Otto. The Rocca then became the home of one of the most fierce and powerful feudal families of the Apennines: the dynasty of Count Boniface, vassal of the archbishop of Ravenna. The visit of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa to the Rocca (in 1160 and 1164) attests to the strategic value that the structure achieved over the centuries. In 1282, thanks to the military aid provided by the Angevin, Pope Martin IV managed to subdue the cities of Romagna, one after the other, including Castrocaro. The Rocca became a military garrison and was controlled by castellans at the Pope’s service. In the 17th century, the Rocca was demilitarized and has remained relatively abandoned for three centuries, until the beginning of 1980, when its restoration began. In 1999, part of the fortress was made accessible and entrusted to the local promotional organization.
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
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.
180-500 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