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Wine Production
About 3,323 vine-growing estates produce average of 60,000 tonnes of
grapes, resulting in about 420,000 hL of wine.
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| Vineyards on the hills of Piacenza |
Most vine-growing estates produce their own wines directly, although
only part of the grapes are made into wine.
Nearly 1,400 estates have wine-making plants and equipment for the production
and the bottling of wine. The average yearly production of DOC wines in
the last three years is about 226,000 hL, about 56% of the total production
in the province.
The Appellation
DOC Colli Piacentini ranks 16th out of the 360 DOC (2% of the total Italian
production) and 1st on a regional level (17% of the total region of Emilia-Romagna
is produced here).
The Market Trends
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| Azienda Agricola Molinelli |
The wines which better identify the area of Piacenza and have the main
share of the market are Gutturnio and Malvasia di Candia Aromatica with
a production of about 5.4m and 2.0m bottles resp.
Gutturnio
This is the famous red wine made from 55-70% of Barbera grapes and from
30-45% of Croatina grapes, locally known as Bonarda. It comes in three
different varieties: sparkling or still, if young; "Classico",
from the central and best area of its region;
Superiore", is put on the market by law after 1 September of the
year following the vintage. "Riserva" is aged for at least 24
months, 3 of which in wooden barrels, starting from 1 October of the year
of vintage;
Malvasia di Candia
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| Azienda Agricola " Le Torricelle". |
This white wine is made from at least 85% of Aromatic Malvasia di Candia
grapes and from other grapes similar in colour, provided they are recommended
or authorised in the province of Piacenza.
Maximum yield per hectare is 13 tonnes; maximum wine yield is 70%;
The straw-yellow or pale straw-yellow wine has a characteristic, intense
bouquet.
The flavour is dry, medium sweet or sweet, aromatic, fresh. Both still
or slightly sparkling version are available. It has a min. of 12, 50%
alcohol (Sweet Malvasia can have as low as 5.5%). Dry Malvasia should
be served at 10°C. Medium sweet or sweet goes well at 7°C.
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