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.
Production exclusively comes from the few vineyards cultivated along the end of the Voltre River, between 100 and 150 meters asl, on clayey soils rich in iron, not very deep nor fertile. The wines produced, once widely well-known, are dry reds that are suitable for aging.
Stretching along the right of the Bidente River, between Bertinoro and Predappio. The vineyards are cultivated along the end of the Voltre River.
100-150 m asl
Dark and red soils, chalky marls near Gemmano, calcareous marls at higher altitudes.
The Rocca of Meldola
A massive fortification built in the Early Middle Ages, the fortress stands on a rocky spur overlooking Meldola, a few kilometers south of Forlì. Built between the 10th-11th centuries, it was once owned by the Church of Ravenna and then passed to the Cavalcaconte family, the counts of Bertinoro. In 1500, Pandolfo IV Malatesta sold Meldola to Cesare Borgia. Between 1503 and 1509, under the rule of the Republic of Venice, the fortress underwent restoration that turned it from a military garrison to a noble residence. Towards the end of the 90s, the municipality of Meldola began the restoration of the entire architectural complex and is still an ongoing operation.
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
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
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