D.O.C.G. wines
Probably the area that produces the best DOCG wines (Controlled and Granted Denomination of Origin) is Oltrepò Pavese (Pavia and its provinces, in the south part of Lombardy), especially for the sparkling ones.
D.O.C. wines
Oltrepò Pavese is famous also for D.O.C. wines (Controlled Denomination of Origin): Bonarda, Buttafuoco (derived from the mix of Bonarda and Barbera grapes, rare grape and Uvetta di Canneto), Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malvasia and Croatina. In Oltrepò Pavese is worth mentioning Black Pinot, from which is produced also a sparkling wine. Botticino and Capriano del Colle are two wines produced near the city of Brescia: the first is red, full-bodied and aromatic, the latter is red too, but the variations in new, riserva, trebbiano and sparkling trebbiano. Other two good wines are Lambrusco from Mantova, rose or red coloured and Curtefranca from Franciacorta (an area near Brescia, its provinces and Iseo lake), in its two versions: white, light with flowers aroma, and red, with fruits and grass aroma, quite full-bodied. White wines are made with Italian Riesling grapes, Muscats and Malvasia, grown with Guyot and espalier techniques.
Valtellina
Here vineyards are at the mountains slope where they can benefit from the sun, while vines are grown at high altitudes. Here the main wine is Nebbiolo, called Chiavennasca, from which derive Sforzato of Valtellina D.O.C.G. and Valtellina Superior D.O.C.G. Others are the red Pignola valtellinese, Rossola and Brugnola. In this area the most frequent growing technique is the Guyot one.
Main red wines: Valtellina Superior, Red Valtellina, Bonarda, Lambrusco, Botticino.
Main white wines: Chardonnay, White Terre of Franciacorta, White and Grey Pinot, Tocai, Lugana.
Main rosé wines: Classic Garda Chiaretto, Garda Colli Mantovani Chiaretto, Riviera of Garda Chiaretto.
Main sparkling: Franciacorta, Black Pinot, Oltrepò Pavese.
