Emilia-Romagna is a long stretch of territory stretching from the south bank of the Po River up into the Apennine Mountains. To the east it is bounded by the Adriatic Sea. To the west it stretches all the way to Liguria, just over 14kms the Ligurian Sea. It is a wealthy and agriculturally fertile region and a major Italian wine producer.

Historically the wines from Emilia Romagna have not been well known in Australia outside of cheap and sweet red Lambrusco. A style of sparkling wine known universally as being of low quality and rather unfashionable. But oh my how times change. Today sparkling Lambrusco is some of the most trendy and interesting wine available with a number of natural wine producers creating delicious wines that have captured many people’s attention.

Outside of Lambrusco there is an increasing number of great wines being produced in diverse terroirs along the whole stretch of the Apennines. From Piacentini to the coast there are unique varieties and terroirs to discover.

The region is geographically diverse but can be broken down into a few generalizations. 

To the west lie the Colli Piacentini and Parma in the foothills of the Apennine. Here it is wetter and the winters are colder with a stronger continental influence. 

If you head east from there you come to Lambrusco country. A territory that stretches from the flatter and warmer plains north of Reggio and Modena down into the colder, more continental Apennine.

Southeast from there you find another stretch of hilly and diverse land also in the foothills of the Apennine, from Bologna down into Romagna and the sea. The sea influence becomes stronger here, acting as a moderator of the warmer weather. 

There are also vineyards in the (very) flat lands along the coast. Here it is open with little shelter from the heat and humidity of the Adriatic.