Viticulture in Cesena is carried out in two distinct areas.
The first, starting from the north, is exclusively practiced on clayey soils at the foothills and yields simple and fruity Sangiovese wines that are easy to drink even during the hottest and driest years. The second evolves within the “historical triangle” of viticulture in the sub-area, between Saiano, Carpineta and Sorrivoli. Here, altitudes vary between 100 and 250 meters, the soils are more sandy and reveal greater presence of limestone, and the wines are a combination of fruit (pleasant and cherry-like), warmth and delicate sapidity.
Stretching over the first hills surrounding the Savio River and up to the west bank of the Rubicon River
60-250 m asl
Ochre clays with little limestone and yellow sands
The Rocca Malatestiana
The Rocca Malatestiana in Cesena is one of the most impressive of its kind in the entire region. It is located in the heart of the city, on top of the Garampo hill, surrounded by the Parco della Rimembranza. Built in 1380 by Galeotto Malatesta and completed by his successors, Andrea and Novello Malatesta, it was later renovated in 1477, during the papal rule. The Rocca is part of a larger series of fortifications that surround the city: a system that amazed even Leonardo da Vinci when, in the summer of 1502, he stayed in Cesena to inspect and oversee the fortifications upon the orders of Cesare Borgia. Today, tourists can visit the bastion and enjoy a view that juts towards the sea, explore the trenches and the two central towers, where the Museo di Civiltà Contadina can be found.
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
Castrocaro boasts 3 historically suitable areas that remarkably differ from one another.
80-300 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