Had the pleasure of learning about the Colli dei Longobardi Wine Route and the rich area of Brescia in northern Italy’s Lombardy region. Brescia is only an hour or so east of Milan. Bummed that I did not know about it sooner, else I would’ve taken the short trip over to explore when I was in Milan earlier this year!
Colli dei Longobardi Wine Route is a historical and cultural food and wine trail that tells the story of the land. It starts at vineyard at the foot of Brescia’s Castle and winds through the area’s Roman architecture, historic villas, medieval settlements, churches, museums, art galleries, and of course all the vineyards in the area. Eat and drink your way (on a bicycle, if you want!) through the beautiful Italian hills and savour the bounty that Brescia area has to offer: artisanal cured meats, salami, honey vinegar, and Valverde honey. Wash it all down with prestigious Bottocino and Montenetto wines.
We tasted three wines from the Brescia area. The two Montenetto reds, Peri Bigogno Marzemino Borgo dell’Ora and Peroni Montelungo, are both made from the same Marzemino grape variety but have completely different flavour profiles. One tastes like a light young wine, dry and velvety, while the other has been aged for at least two years and has a bolder, richer, full flavour with floral peppery notes. Hubby really liked the latter.
The third was a Montenetto white: Peroni Monteritto. Made from Trebbiano grapes, this was delicate and very easy to drink, sweetish (reminds me of muscat gummy candy) and had notes of apple and pear. I could drink this every day.
We don’t have many wines from the Brescia area in BC, so hopefully there’s more interest in it and more options can be brought in!
Many thanks to the @collideilongobardi delegation and Regione Lombardia (Region of Lombardy) for sharing this amazing itinerary and to the Italian Chamber of Commerce @iccc_west for hosting this seminar.
Additional facts:
Colli dei Longobardi literally means “hills of Longobards”, which was a Germanic group that dominated the area for over 5 centuries more than 1,500 years ago.
The Colli dei Longobardi Wine Route promotes one area with two consortiums (two different appellation for each) and probably the only Wine Route in Italy that promotes one area with two consortiums:
– Consortium ‘Botticino’ promoting the “Botticino DOC” and “Ronchi di Brescia IGT”.
– Consortium ‘Montenetto’ promoting the “Capriano del Colle DOC” and the “Montenetto di Brescia IGT”.
🍷: @cantinaperibigogno @azienda_agricola_peroni
The afternoon, including wine tasting and seminar, was a complimentary media event.
