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.
The soils prevalently contain clay and iron, becoming less red and deep as the altitudes rise, reaching up to 200 meters: the resulting Sangiovese expresses lively and juicy fruit, as well as an even and flavorful structure. Except for the ridges of Petrignone, characterized by darker soils that yield Sangiovese with deeper and increasingly dynamic sapidity/tannins compared to average. Another exception are the Molasse di Messiniano, which bring out Sangiovese wines with a remarkably mineral aroma (almost sulfurous) and a full and voluminous mouthfeel.
Stretching between Faenza and Forlì, the main towns include Oriolo, Santa Lucia, I Sabbioni, Castiglione, Petrignone
60-200 m asl
Brown and red clays dominate the western side of Faenza, while the eastern side is mainly characterized by ocher-colored soils and yellow Pliocene sands
The Tower of Oriolo
In 1474, Archbishop Bartolomeo Roverella handed Oriolo to Carlo II Manfredi, Lord of Faenza. The old castle was renovated and transformed into a military fortress. In particular, the hexagonal tower – still open today – was rebuilt and access was fortified by adding two thick walls with elevated walkways. Since the second half of the 18th century, the Tower has been sold to privates, who mostly designated it as a residence for sharecroppers who worked in the surrounding vineyards. Today, the structure has been reclaimed by the Associazione Torre di Oriolo which organizes guided tours, historical re-enactments, traditional festivals and food and wine events.
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
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
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