Lombardy

Region in Italy, with the capital of Milan (Milano), the vineyard area totals 26.951 hectares. It is located in the extreme north of the Italian boot, and borders on Switzerland. The origins of viticulture go back to the Etruscans, Venetians and Romans. The poet Virgil (70-19 BC), who was born in Mantua, writes of „rivers, lakes, olive trees, vines and golden fields of wheat“ in his home region. It is likely he was referring to the hills surrounding Lake Garda. The vineyard area was still considerably larger right up to the late 17th century. Today the Po plains are used mainly for general agriculture and cattle farming. Annual production is around 1,5 million hectolitres of wine. The best wine-growing regions are to be found primarily around the lakes (Lago di Como, Lago di Garda, Lago d´Iseo), between Bergamo and Verona, as well as in the Valtellina valley on the border with Switzerland. Lombardy is particularly well known for the fact that the greatest volume of spumante (sparkling wine) produced in accordance with the champagne method, or metodo classico, is made here. The regional capital Milan is also the largest wine market in Italy. The most widely planted red varieties are Barbera, Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, Lambrusco, Merlot, Nebbiolo and Pinot Noir, the most widely planted white varieties are Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco and Trebbiano. The most important wine producers include Berlucchi and Ca´ del Bosco. The DOC resp. DOCG zones are

* Botticino
* Capriano del Colle
* Cellatica
* Franciacorta (DOCG)
* Garda (also in Veneto)
* Garda Classico
* Garda Colli Mantovani
* Lambrusco Mantovano
* Lugana (also in Veneto)
* Moscato di Scansano
* Oltrepò Pavese
* Oltrpo Pavese Spumante Metodo Classico
* San Colombano al Lambro
* San Martino della Battaglia (also in Veneto)
* Terre di Franciacorta (renamed to Curtefranca)
* Valcalepio
* Valtellina
* Valtellina Sforzato#Valtellina (DOCG)
* Valtellina Superiore#Valtellina (DOCG)