Le sottozone del Romagna Sangiovese: San Clemente | Consorzio Vini di Romagna
September 2024 | Territory

The Sub-Zones of Romagna Sangiovese: San Clemente

Our journey through the subzones of Romagna Sangiovese takes us eastward to San Clemente, the easternmost – and warmest – area of the denomination.

Mosaico di Vita | Consorzio Vini di Romagna

We’re in the hills overlooking the Conca Valley, a landscape shaped by the river that carves through this subzone before flowing into the Adriatic Sea between Misano and Cattolica. San Clemente encompasses a region that includes the towns of San Giovanni in Marignano, Morciano, Saludecio, and Gemmano, with altitudes ranging from 60 meters above sea level to about 300 meters in the more inland areas. The geological diversity here is striking: in the lower areas, you'll find brown and red soils, while as you climb higher, the landscape shifts to chalky marl and limestone, particularly around Gemmano and the higher elevations.

As the soils change, so do the Sangiovese wines: more power and structure in the vineyards closer to the coast, with more agility, freshness, and a pronounced mineral elegance as you move into the higher zones. These are structured wines, but with a lively acidity, making them the perfect match for Romagna’s cuisine.

The Rocca of San Clemente

San Clemente is a rare example of a fortified rural settlement, encircled by medieval walls. The Rocca di San Clemente, a fortress with a castle dating back to the 10th century, was originally gifted by Ottone I to the Counts of Carpegna before passing to the Malatesta family. After their fall, it changed hands from the Venetians to the Papal States.