Lombardy

DOC for red wines in the north of the wine-growing region of Lombardy in Italy. The zone includes the communes of Biancone, Buglio in Monte, Castione Andevenno, Chiuro, Sondrio and Tirano in the Valtellina on the upper reaches of the Adda river (Veltlin in German) in the alpine province of Sondrio. The wine is sometimes also known as Veltliner, there is absolutely no connection with the white Austrian variety of the same name. The Swiss author Hermann Hesse (1877-1962), who lived in this valley for a long time, uses this name, and repeatedly describes it as his absolute favourite wine. The military leader Prince Albrecht Wenzel Eusebius von Wallenstein (1583-1634) was an excessive wine drinker up to the age of 30. As he suffered from severe gout, his doctor advised him to practice moderation, and to drink only this red wine, an order Wallenstein adhered to until his violent death. The vineyards are terraced and mostly south-facing, the soils are stony with clay, and located in a band stretching for 45 kilometres, at an altitude of around 800 metres above sea level. The Piz Bernina mountain, which is 4050 metres high, lies close by, providing protection from the north winds. In some parts, pulley systems have to be used to transport the grapes down to the valley. The vineyard area for the standard DOC Valtellina is around 700 hectares, that for DOCG Valtellina Superiore is around 500 hectares. The DOC version is made from Nebbiolo (minimum of 80%, known here as Chiavennasca – meaning „the one that grows here“) and optionally from other permitted red varieties (up to 20%).

Valtellina Superiore was classified as DOCG in 1998, it is made from a minimum of 90% Chiavennasca and a maximum of 10% of other permitted red varieties. It has a slightly higher alcohol content of 12% vol, and is matured for two years, of which a minimum of one year must be in barrel. The names of the sub-zones of Grumello (named after a castle), Inferno (hottest site in the valley), Maroggia, Sassella (named after a chapel, considered to be the best site), Stagafassli (in the bordering Swiss valley of the Veltlin) and Valgella may be stated on the bottle label. A Riserva is also made, this must be matured for a minimum of three years.

Valtellina Sforzato (also known as Valtellina Sfursàt) was classified as DOCG in 2003, this is a dry red straw wine made from partly raisined grapes in the style of an Amarone. It must be made of a minimum of 90% Chiavennasca grapes, with the optional addition of a maximum of 10% of other permitted red varieties. The grapes are picked late, and then dried on wooden racks for up to three months. The wine is made in February or March, with slow fermentation on the skins in traditional style. This leads to low levels of acidity, and formation of special aroma compounds, the wine is ruby red and extremely soft, it must have a minimum alcohol content of 14% vol., and must be matured in oak barrels for a minimum of 12 months.