Colli Piacentini red wines, all characterized by a strong ruby colour, are intense, but never heavy, elegant, without going unnoticed on the most important tables of Italian cooking. Gutturnio, but also Bonarda, Barbera, Cabernet, Novello, and Pinot Nero, are the important red wines between 11 and 12 degrees. Tasty red meats, as well as rich first courses, are the ideal match for these lively red wines.
The other ‘winning team’, the one concerning white wines, is characterized by a pale yellow colour, with greenish tints. Ortrugo, Malvasia, Chardonnay, Monterosso Val d'Arda, Trebbianino, Valnure, and Vin Santo are part of this family. Their colours and shades are similar, but they present important differences as for their flavour. So, with their high quality and versatility, they can meet every type of table, from the most committed and refined to the more carefree and joyful ones. Appetizers, fish courses, fish-fries, mushrooms, and soft cheeses are the most appreciated matches.
The Gutturnio is a wine whose production is allowed only in the province of Piacenza, and is obtained by Barbera and Croatina vines. Gutturnio is produced in 3 types: Sparkling, Superior and Reserve. Superior and Reserve Gutturnio can age for years, improving their organoleptic characteristics. The Riserva must age for at least 6 months in oak barrels, and must be sold after 2 years from the vintage. The word ‘Classic’, on a few bottles of the still Gutturnio, identifies a wine produced in the historic districts of the DOC.Four valleys of wine culture
The area of Colli Piacentini extend in the province of Piacenza, in Emilia-Romagna, and include the following valleys: Val D' Arda, Val Nure, Val Tidone, Val Trebbia, that is, the four places where these wines are produced.
This is a story of intensive agriculture, fostered by the proximity of Padan Plain, which here becomes love for this land and wine tourism. In recent decades, the companies of this land have tried to keep the most of the characteristics of elegance and quality typical of Emilia’s agriculture. Everywhere in the valleys it is possible to visit the wine-making industries and taste the great wines of these hills thanks to ‘La Strada dei Vini e dei Sapori dei Colli Piacentini', a route among excellent wines and genuine flavours of Emilia-Romagna countryside.
DOC Colli Piacentini has nearly 3.000 production facilities, almost 700 of which consist in wine growers’ cooperatives on an area of about 7.000 hectares, almost all in the hills between 150 and 450 meters in height. The hectares enrolled in the DOC Colli Piacentini are 4.550, that is, 2/3 of the whole area. The production of grape in the province is about 60.000 tons, from which about 40 million litres of wine are produced, but only a little more than half of this production is bottled as DOC, because of the strict control standards that ensure a high quality product.
Today China is one of the main export markets, without forgetting the classic wine markets, such as North Europe and Russia.
The Chardonnay has a straw yellow color with greenish, fine and fruity, pleasant and harmonious, dry, cool, lively and sometimes sparkling wine. Served at the ideal temperature of 10°C, it is excellent with appetizers, seafood, fried seafood, mushrooms and soft cheeses. Quality and modernity
These are the peculiar features which characterize the wines of Colli Piacentini, as for their bottles and labels, too, where dark and very dark colours prevail for red wines, as well as every sort of green for white wines. The bottles are simple and essential, with dry and geometric characters in their writings. The final result is a packaging characterized by a young and contemporary design. And these wines indeed address a young and informed market.
The Vin Santo has a pale yellow/golden color with an intense aroma, aromatic, distinctive ethereal. The flavor is dry or sweet, soft harmonious, intense aromatic, quiet. Aged at least 48 months of which a minimum of 36 in wooden barrels with effect from November 1st the grape harvest’s year. Served at the ideal temperature of 13°C, Vin Santo is ideal for dessert and meditation.
