Colli Bolognesi is a DOC of eastern Emilia-Romagna, in Italy. It was introduced in July 1975, one year prior to Colli di Scandiano e di Canosa which covers a more westerly stretch of the northern Apennine foothills. To those with a basic grasp of the Italian language, the DOC's title will betray both the topography and the location of the vineyards it covers. Colli Bolognesi translates as the hills of Bologna, a place which also refers to a well-known representative of Italian cuisine: spaghetti bolognese.
The DOC covers both red and white wines, all varietals, which must be made from at least 85% of the stated variety. Colli Bolognesi winemakers work with a combination of native Italian grape varieties and a number borrowed from France. The red wines are produced from Merlot, Barbera and Cabernet Sauvignon, while the whites are based on Pignoletto, Pinot Bianco, Riesling Italico (Welschriesling), Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
The area in which these wines are made lies to the south-west of Bologna, in the foothills of the Appennino Settentrionale (the northern Apennines), an environment replete with complex soil compositions and mesoclimates. The availability and diversity of terroir has made the hills excellent for quality winegrowing.
This has led to seven sottozone (sub-zones) being identified in the DOC laws which may be named on bottle labels. They each effectively have their own sub-DOC, as each has a specific set of varieties permitted for use and a unique set of production constraints. For example, a Colli Bolognesi Barbera wine from the Colline di Riosto is required to reach 11.5% alcohol by volume, whereas a Colli Bolognesi Barbera from the warmer Colline Marconiane must reach a full 12.5%. Similarly, wines bearing the name of any of these sub-zones are subject to stricter production regulations than one produced under the generic DOC title; a standard Colli Bolognesi Sauvignon has a yield restriction of 120 quintal per hectare, while the equivalent wine bearing the name of the Serravalle sub-zone is restricted by one third, to 80 quintal per hectare. (A quintal is equivalent to 100kg.)
The area's most distinguished wines are whites (both still and sparkling) made from the lively Pignoletto variety. These are so distinguished, and so representative of the local terroir and wine culture, that those from the Classico sub-zone have now been granted full DOCG status. Tongue-twisting though the title might be, Colli Bolognesi Classico Pignoletto joined Albana di Romagna at this highest level of Italian wine classification in November 2010.
