Valtellina: Nebbiolo terraces and pizzoccheri

About Valtellina: Nebbiolo terraces and pizzoccheri

By the ULTIMATE Lake Como Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Beyond Colico the valley of the Adda climbs east into Valtellina, the most extensive terraced wine territory in Lombardy, with 750 hectares of vines, in the Consorzio’s words. Its great wine is the Sforzato (Sfursat) di Valtellina, made from dried Nebbiolo grapes; its dish is pizzoccheri, buckwheat pasta, a protected Pizzoccheri della Valtellina IGP since 2016.

Getting there

By Trenord from Lecco or Colico to Sondrio and Tirano; check trenord.it, as works sometimes replace trains with buses.

The wines

The Sforzato di Valtellina was the first dry red passito in Italy to receive the DOCG, in 2003: at least 90% Nebbiolo, the grapes dried in lofts until at least early December, and released only after 20 months, 12 of them in wood (vinidivaltellina.it).

Trenord trains run from Colico up the valley to Sondrio and Tirano; check for bus replacements during works.

The food

Pizzoccheri della Valtellina, buckwheat pasta, holds an IGP from the European Union since 2016.

The mountains

Further up the valley are the ski resorts of Bormio and Livigno: see ULTIMATE Ski Resorts.

Our advice: visit in autumn, at harvest time, for the colour on the terraces.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Valtellina: Nebbiolo terraces and pizzoccheri before you go.