Le Sottozone del Romagna Sangiovese: Meldola | Consorzio Vini di Romagna
April 2024 | Territory

The Sub-Zones of Romagna Sangiovese: Meldola

Situated between the Bertinoro and Predappio subzones, along the right bank of the Bidente River, Meldola is the least vineyard-rich of the 16 subzones, despite its large area.

Mosaico di Vita | Consorzio Vini di Romagna

Meldola relies almost entirely on a handful of vineyards planted along the lower stretch of the Voltre stream, at elevations between 100 and 150 meters. 

The soils here, particularly to the north, are predominantly composed of red clay – shallow brown soils that resemble those found in Serra and parts of Oriolo, but with a higher limestone content. Near Gemmano, these soils are enriched with chalky marls, and in a few higher-altitude spots, you can also find limestone marls. 

Historically, Meldola and its surroundings were considered some of the most promising areas for Sangiovese. Today, the wines produced here are characterized by their deep colors, robust body, and a pleasant tannic quality that encourages aging. 

One highlight of Meldola is the beautiful Rocca, which dates back to the early medieval period. Built between the 10th and 11th centuries, it originally belonged to the Church of Ravenna before coming under the control of the Cavalcaconte family, Counts of Bertinoro. In 1500, Pandolfo IV Malatesta sold Meldola to Cesare Borgia. Between 1503 and 1509, during the rule of the Republic of Venice, the fortress underwent renovations that transformed it from a military outpost into a noble residence. In the late 1990s, the Municipality of Meldola began restoring the etire architectural complex, which is still in progress today.