The Colli Piacentini ("Hills of Piacenza") are an Italian wine region located at the western end of Emilia-Romagna. In 1967, the region was given the denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) quality designation. Within its boundaries are several smaller DOCs including Colli Piacentini Gutturnio, Monterosso Val D'Arda DOC, Trebbianino Val Trebbia DOC, and Val Nur del Colli Piacentini DOC.[1] The region has a long history of winemaking with fossilized vine roots and grape seeds excavated from the region showing viticulture taking place as early as 2000 BC.[2] In Roman times, Julius Caesar's father-in-law Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus, grew grapes in the Piacenza hills.[3]
The Colli Piacentini region was once considered part of the Piedmont wine region. To the northwest is the Lombardy wine region of Oltrepò Pavese and, like Oltrepò Pavese, the wine industry of the Colli Piacentini has had strong historical ties to the wine markets of Milan. The region produces over 17 different wines ranging from Vin Santo dessert wines to slightly sparkling frizzante wines. While the practice of labeling wines by varietal is more often associated with New World wines, winemakers in the Colli Piacentini are permitted by DOC regulations to label some of their wines by varietal.[4]
- ^ T. Stevenson "The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia" pp. 290-291 Dorling Kindersley 2005 ISBN 0-7566-1324-8
- ^ Italian Made "Colli Piacentini DOC Archived 2010-01-04 at the Wayback Machine" Italian Trade Commission, Accessed: December 14th, 2009
- ^ T. Stevenson "The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia" pg 290-291 Dorling Kindersley 2005 ISBN 0-7566-1324-8
- ^ M. Ewing-Mulligan & E. McCarthy Italian Wines for Dummies pg 103-105 Hungry Minds 2001 ISBN 0-7645-5355-0