Oltrepò Pavese

Oltrepò Pavese (Oltrepo Pavese) – perhaps the most traditional area of wine production (DOC) of the Northern Italian region of Lombardy. Literally “for Pavia”, i.e. the part of Pavia beyond the river Po.

Located near Milan and is bordered by wine-growing areas of Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont.

The Vineyards Of Oltrepò Pavese

The vineyards of the Oltrepò area is located in the foothills of the Alps, between the mountains and the river Po. The local microclimate is very favorable for vines, and well-drained soil rich in clay and marl. In General, terroir is often compared to Barolo.

Oltrepò produces more than half of the wines of Lombardy and is not far behind in terms of Asti and Chianti.

This area is considered the Italian capital of Pinot Noir: the area of its vineyards here is almost 4000 hectares. Although the local climate can lead to a too early ripening of this variety, it is very suitable for the cultivation of Pinot Noir for sparkling wines. If you collect it at an early stage of maturity of the berry skins, Pinot Noir will have an optimal balance of acids and sugars, required for this type of wine.

The Wine Oltrepo

Under the Oltrepo Pavese appellation produces 20 wines – both traditional and innovative style.

On the side of tradition: rosso (red), rosato (pink), Buttafuoco (a local style of red wine from pure Italian varieties) and semi-sweet semi-sparkling (frizzante, i.e. less effervescent than traditional sparkling) Sangue di Guida (Sangue di Guida, i.e., the blood of Judas).

Traditional red blend for these wines is built on the basis of varieties Barbera and croatina, also known under the local names of UVA Rara and bonarda. The main characters among whites is Malvasia and Muscat, who are assigned the leading role to sparkling and sweet wines, and on the sidelines stands Cortese. Muscat still make wine in the passito style (passito from dried grapes) and liquoroso (liquoroso, liqueur).

On the side of innovation – sparkling wine spumante (i.e., the traditional degrees of “more” as in champagne) and still wines from local varieties. Among the red lead of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. The wine is often aged in new barriques (225 liter French oak barrels). Leaders in modern white: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Italian Riesling, Rhine Riesling and Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir is vinified “as white”, with the permitted addition of up to 30% Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay.

Sparkling wine spumante doing traditional champagne method and the autoclave method (Charm). In 2007 was established a separate class for full-bodied DOCG, a local sparkling Oltrepo Pavese Metodo Classico.