CorkCork
Emilia-Romagna

Italy

Emilia-Romagna

PiedmontPiedmontTuscanyTuscanyVenetoVenetoLombardyLombardyPugliaPugliaSicilySicilySardiniaSardiniaFriuliFriuliCampaniaCampaniaAbruzzoAbruzzoTrentinoTrentinoUmbriaUmbriaMarcheMarcheBasilicataBasilicataCalabriaCalabriaLiguriaLiguriaValle d'AostaValle d'AostaEmilia-RomagnaEmilia-Romagna

Italy wine regions

About Emilia-Romagna

Split by the Apennines into two distinct wine cultures, this region is Italy's gastronomic heartland. Emilia, in the west, is Lambrusco country, producing lightly sparkling, food-friendly reds and roses that range from dry to sweet. Once dismissed, quality Lambrusco is enjoying a revival. Romagna, in the east, centers on Sangiovese di Romagna and Albana, Italy's first white DOCG. The region also produces significant quantities of Trebbiano and international varieties. Bologna, Modena, and Parma provide a hungry domestic market that consumes much of the production, meaning many excellent wines rarely leave the region.

Vintages

12 · 2014–2025

Rating:
95+
90-94
85-89
80-84
<80
PeakReadyHold
Year202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014
Red

Outstanding Emilia-Romagna Vintages

The best recent vintages rated excellent or exceptional.

Red

2025

Almost ready
90Excellent

A promising, balanced year: aromatic, complete Sangiovese with ripe tannin and good energy, and dry Lambrusco of unusual precision.

2027Peak 2028–20322034

2021

At peak
91Excellent

Concentrated, structured reds from a small crop. Dense fruit with the acid line to age; the hill villages produced standout Superiore.

2023Peak 2025–20302032

2020

At peak
90Excellent

Even, harmonious wines with supple tannins and generous fruit, from a season that growers managed almost undisturbed.

2022Peak 2024–20282030

2019

At peak
91Excellent

Classic, structured Romagna Sangiovese with bright acidity and firm, ripe tannin; the village Superiore wines deserve patience.

2021Peak 2023–20292031

2016

At peak
92Excellent

The best recent vintage for cellaring: complete, perfumed Romagna Sangiovese with fine tannins and real village definition in Predappio and Bertinoro.

2018Peak 2020–20272030

2015

Drink up
90Excellent

Ripe, generous Sangiovese with dark fruit and round tannins; a warm year that favored the cooler village sites like Modigliana.

2017Peak 2019–20252027

DOC & DOCG

Classification System

Best known for Lambrusco, Emilia-Romagna also produces serious Sangiovese from the hills of Romagna and increasingly respected whites from Albana.

DOCG

Romagna Albana, Italy’s first white wine DOCG (1987)

DOC

Lambrusco (multiple DOCs), Colli Bolognesi, Romagna Sangiovese

IGT

Emilia IGT, Rubicone IGT

What Emilia-Romagna produces

Red

Sangiovese leads in Romagna's hills, from juicy everyday bottles to structured Superiore wines carrying village names like Predappio and Bertinoro. Gutturnio adds a Barbera-led blend in the Piacenza valleys.

White

Albana, Italy's first white DOCG, turns golden and honeyed around Bertinoro, while crisp Pignoletto and Trebbiano keep Bologna's tables refreshed.

Rosé

Pale, fragrant Lambrusco rosato, at its finest from Sorbara fruit: rose petal, cranberry, and a bone-dry finish.

Sparkling

Lambrusco in every shade, from feather-light Sorbara to inky, tannic Grasparossa, nearly always frizzante and made for salumi.

Regional appellations

Lambrusco

Sparkling red produced across much of the Emilia side of the region. Ranges from sweet and fruity to dry and complex.

Grapes of Emilia-Romagna

Albana

Italy's first white DOCG grape, giving golden, apricot-scented whites around Bertinoro, from chalky dry versions to honeyed passito.

Barbera

Body
Tannins
Sweetness
Acidity
cherryplumblack pepper

The backbone of Gutturnio in the Piacenza hills, blended with local Bonarda (Croatina) into reds that come still or gently fizzing.

Lambrusco

Body
Sweetness
Acidity
StrawberryCherryRaspberryViolet

Sparkling red around Modena. Lambrusco di Sorbara is the most fragrant, with violet, rose petal, and red cherry on zesty acidity. Frizzante or spumante, dry to dolce.

Pignoletto

Grechetto Gentile under its Bolognese name: crisp, lightly almondy whites, mostly frizzante, the house pour of Bologna's osterie.

Sangiovese

Body
Tannins
Sweetness
Acidity
red cherryplumthymetobacco

Lighter, earthier Sangiovese from Emilia-Romagna. Simpler, everyday style.

Trebbiano

Body
Sweetness
Acidity
lemongreen applepearalmond

Trebbiano Romagnolo makes the light, fresh everyday whites of the Adriatic coast, best young and cold with fried fish.

Climate

continentalhumidcold winters

Continental climate with hot, humid summers and cold winters, moderated by the Po River valley and Adriatic Sea influence, creating ideal conditions for both fresh, fizzy wines and structured reds

Terroir

diverse soilsalluvialsandlimestone

Diverse landscape from Po River plains with alluvial soils perfect for Lambrusco, to rolling Apennine foothills with clay-limestone soils ideal for Sangiovese, plus coastal areas with sandy soils near the Adriatic

Typical Aromas

violetssour cherrydried herbsearthy mineralitywhite pepperrose petals
Explore the aroma wheel

More in Italy

Abruzzo

Abruzzo

Basilicata

Basilicata

Calabria

Calabria

Campania

Campania

Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Liguria

Liguria

Lombardy

Lombardy

Marche

Marche

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Emilia-Romagna wine special?▼
Emilia-Romagna is really two wine regions in one, split by the Apennine Mountains. The western Emilia side is famous for Lambrusco - those lightly sparkling, food-friendly reds that have made a serious comeback from their sweet jug wine reputation. What makes it special is how perfectly these wines match the region's incredible food culture - it's Italy's gastronomic heartland after all.
What are the best Emilia-Romagna vintages?▼
For Lambrusco, recent vintages like 2020 and 2021 have been excellent, with good balance and freshness. The sparkling nature of most Lambrusco means they're best enjoyed young and fresh, so I'd focus on the most recent 2-3 years. For Sangiovese from Romagna, 2018 and 2019 were particularly strong vintage years with great concentration.
What grapes are grown in Emilia-Romagna?▼
The star grape is definitely Lambrusco in its various forms - Lambrusco di Sorbara, Lambrusco Grasparossa, and Lambrusco Salamino are the main ones. Sangiovese dominates the Romagna side, often called Sangiovese di Romagna. You'll also find Trebbiano for whites, plus some international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in certain areas.
What food pairs well with Emilia-Romagna wines?▼
This is where these wines truly shine - they're made for the region's rich cuisine. Lambrusco is perfect with Parmigiano-Reggiano, prosciutto di Parma, mortadella, and the region's famous pasta dishes like tagliatelle al ragù. The bubbles and acidity cut through rich, fatty foods beautifully. Sangiovese di Romagna works great with grilled meats and the heartier dishes from that area.
How does Emilia-Romagna compare to other major wine regions?▼
It's quite different from Tuscany or Piedmont because it's more about food-friendly, everyday drinking wines rather than age-worthy collectibles. While Tuscany focuses on prestigious Sangiovese and Piedmont on Nebbiolo, Emilia-Romagna specializes in approachable, sparkling Lambrusco that's meant to be enjoyed with meals. It's less about prestige and more about pure drinking pleasure and food pairing.

Map data: DOC zones from ISTAT comune boundaries (openpolis/geojson-italy, CC BY 4.0)