Oltrepò Pavese
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Oltrepò Pavese wines

Oltrepò Pavese, a Land of Wine and Riches


Oltrepò Pavese, in the province of Pavia, Lombardy, is the origin of many famous and characteristic wines.

Oltrepò Pavese, Lombardy’s first wine terroir
Oltrepò Pavese is crossed by four major rivers which flow from the south and intersect to flow into the river Po in the North. The wine produced here is undoubtedly a product of the particular agricultural environment, which includes everything from well-aged reds to vintage whites. The result of various production methods, there are also fine sparkling wines (including the DOCG label Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico) and dessert wines.
The hilly areas of the region are abundant in vineyards, while the mountain areas produce various meats and cheeses, potatoes, baked goods and confectionaries, and honey. Even in Roman times, the Oltrepò area had been regarded as a region of high-quality wine production, and in Lombardy it is considered the first terroir of the region. Terroirs are regions where the environment itself is said to impart special characteristics to crops grown there.

Wine Production in Oltrepò Pavese
Wines produced in Oltrepò Pavese include the label Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG (Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin). There are also the following seven DOC wines (Controlled Designation of Origin): Bonarda dell’Oltrepò Pavese, Buttafuoco dell’Oltrepò Pavese, Casteggio, Oltrepò Pavese, Oltrepò Pavese Pinot grigio, Pinot nero dell’Oltrepò Pavese e Sangue di Giuda dell’Oltrepò Pavese; as well as an IGT (Typical Geographic Indication) wine produced in Pavia. In 1977, the ‘Consortium for the Protection of Oltrepò Pavese Wines’ was founded, and over time it has expanded its area of influence and is now involved in the protection, management and enhancement of wines produced in the area. It brings together two hundred and twenty companies including six wineries.

The Grapes of Oltrepò Pavese
Grapes have always been native to Oltrepò Pavese. The wine made in this region from the grapes here can trace their roots back to the 19th century. In 1884, it was said that Oltrepò Pavese boasted as many as 225 different grape varieties. These days there are but twelve varieties that are widely used, and yet the region still produces a great range of different wines. For example there are Bonarda grapes (also known as Douce Noir), or Pinot Noir grapes used to make the highly valued Buttafuoco wines, which come in both red and white. These grapes are also used to make Metodo Classico sparkling wines, which along with Buttafuoco wines, are the two indisputable stars of Oltrepò Pavese wine production. It was actually the 19th century politician Agostino Depretis, born in now Pavia (Lombardy) who first realised the potential of the hilly areas of the region for the cultivation of Pinot Noir grapes. This paved the way for wine producers in Italy, and also enabled the enrichment of the local sparkling wine production.


Artecibo editorial board
Content edited by staff
Oltrepò Pavese wines
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