Wineries near Bologna map
When you're in or near Bologna for a weekend or on holiday, there is another side of the city that wine lovers definitely shouldn't miss. Bologna may be famous for its food, porticoes and lively historic centre, but just beyond the city the landscape quickly changes into green hills, vineyards and small wineries.
The new Wineries near Bologna map brings together some of the best wineries and wine resorts in this delicious area. And did I mention that the Colli Bolognesi wine region starts almost on Bologna's doorstep?
Wineries near Bologna
Wineries with tours & tasting
Winery hotels - accommodation
Driving to a winery?
Select a winery on the map and click the arrow on the top right, next to the winery name.
Visit wineries near Bologna for a tour and wine tasting
Bologna has a delicious way of pulling you in. Start with fresh pasta, mortadella, Parmigiano Reggiano and an aperitivo under the porticoes before leaving the city and discover where the great local wines come from.
The hills west and south of Bologna are home to the Colli Bolognesi, a beautiful wine landscape of small villages, winding roads and family-run wineries. The signature wine here is Pignoletto, made from the Grechetto Gentile grape. It is produced in several styles, from still wines to lively sparkling versions, with the Colli Bolognesi Pignoletto DOCG representing the historic heart of its production. Expect a fresh and fragrant white wine, often with a pleasantly dry, slightly bitter finish.
Pignoletto may be the local star, but wineries in the Colli Bolognesi wine region also produce red wines such as Barbera, alongside other white and red varieties. A winery visit is the perfect excuse to taste beyond the names you already know.
And Bologna is also an excellent starting point for discovering the wider world of Emilia-Romagna wine. This is one of Italy's great food regions, but its wines are every bit as diverse. Travel west and you encounter Gutturnio, Malvasia and the many different expressions of Lambrusco. Around Bologna, Pignoletto takes centre stage. Continue east into Romagna and Albana and Sangiovese become two of the defining wines of the landscape.
A wine trip to Predappio
If you love Sangiovese and have a little more time, continue towards Predappio in Romagna. It makes a wonderful full-day wine excursion from Bologna and shows you a completely different side of Emilia-Romagna.
Predappio is one of the recognised geographic subzones of Romagna DOC Sangiovese. An area where wine producers increasingly focus on expressing the differences between individual hills, soils and vineyards. Sangiovese is very much at home here, producing reds that can combine fruit, freshness, savoury character and elegance.
What also makes Predappio interesting for travellers is its location between the Apennine foothills and the Adriatic coast. The vineyards feel wonderfully rural, yet the seaside and some of Romagna's best-known destinations are never very far away. Ravenna is roughly a 45-minute drive from Predappio, while Rimini can be reached in around an hour and a half. This makes the area just as attractive for wine lovers staying on the coast as it is for visitors coming from Bologna.
It also opens up the possibility of a particularly enjoyable Emilia-Romagna itinerary: spend a few days enjoying the beaches and seafood of the Riviera Romagnola, then leave the coast behind for a day and drive inland through the hills for a winery visit and Sangiovese tasting. Or combine Ravenna's famous mosaics and historic centre with an afternoon among the vineyards. Emilia-Romagna is one of those regions where a beach holiday, Italian food and serious wine country can fit surprisingly easily into the same trip.
One winery I visited myself -and one that made the trip especially memorable- is Azienda Agricola Pandolfa | Casa di Noelia, near Predappio. The historic Pandolfa estate is also home to the Noelia Ricci wine project. It focuses strongly on Sangiovese and the character of the Predappio territory. Its wines include both Romagna Sangiovese and single-vineyard expressions such as Godenza.
But the experience here is about more than the wine. You can taste the estate's wines, see the production cellar and underground tunnel, walk through the countryside and visit the historic 18th-century villa. Tastings can also be accompanied by the estate's own extra-virgin olive oil, bread and other local products. It is exactly the kind of place that turns a simple tasting into a real Italian wine memory.
So whether you're spending a city break in Bologna, exploring Ravenna or relaxing for a few days on the Adriatic coast around Rimini, Predappio is well worth a memorable visit.
Bologna shouldn't just be a destination for people who love Italian food. It should be on the list of every wine lover too.
Cheers to Bologna, the Colli Bolognesi the wines of Emilia-Romagna and to Predappio.
Salute! 🍷
Nearby wine regions
From Bologna, you can reach Florence and Tuscany in an hour and a half.
The Chianti Classico wine region is about 1 hour and 45 minutes away, depending, of course, on your final destination.
If you drive north for the same amount of time (1 hour and 45 minutes), you can visit the wine regions of Valpolicella, Bardolino and Soave around Verona and Lake Garda, for example.
A little over a 2-hour drive away, if you’re a fan of sparkling wine, you can taste Prosecco for yourself in the area between Valdobbiadene and Conegliano.
Casa di Noelia
Featured winery in the Predappio area
Last summer, we headed towards Bologna for the first time. We usually just passed through there (on our way to Florence and Tuscany), but this year we visited both the city of Bologna and the surrounding region. A planned visit to the Ancient Library (Biblioteca Malatestiana Antica) in Cesena coincided with an invitation from the Casa di Noelia (Pandolfa) winery. As I’m not one to believe in coincidences, we gratefully accepted. Last June, the time had come. With temperatures well into the 30s, we set off for Fiumana, where we were given an enthusiastic welcome. First, we dropped off our luggage. The very attractive rooms are located a little further on in another building. A short stroll through the vineyards takes you straight back to the villa and the wine cellars.
We were given a really lovely guided tour. From the reception area to the stately 18th-century villa (where you can, for example, hold your wedding). The explanation about the historic villa flowed seamlessly into the winery. We reached the winery from the villa via an underground passage. After a brief introduction, we were told about the wines from both Pandolfa and Noelia Ricci. The latter label is actually a new one, and more or less the result of the new direction that Marco (the son of the current owner Paula) has mapped out for the future.
The red wines in particular, typical of Predappio, were delicious. But of course, that’s all down to personal preference and individual taste. Explore the wines of Pandolfa and Noelia Ricci.
The best thing, of course, is to come and taste them for yourself. You won’t regret it, and… it’s really handy not having to get back in the car after a wine tasting. Book a room there straight away. You won’t regret that either.
And did I mention that it’s ideally situated for combining with either Bologna or a few days at one of the beaches on the Adriatic coast between Ravenna and Rimini?
The best wine tours and tastiest wine tastings...
From Bologna (... and Ravenna)
LUNCH
Picnic in the Vineyard
A picnic amongst the vineyards at Umberto Cesari? This is Italy at its very best. After a short tour of the wine cellar, you’ll find a lovely spot amongst the vines. Your picnic basket is filled with local delicacies, Moma Bianco and Moma Rosso. Spend around 2.5 hours enjoying delicious food, sipping wine and simply savouring the moment.
Read more at the
Umberto Cesari website.
CHEF'S TABLE
Dinner experience
Roll up your sleeves for one of Bologna’s most delicious evenings. In a beautiful 15th-century palazzo, you’ll learn to make fresh pasta by hand with chef Darren, then sit down to enjoy your creations. Add local wines, artisanal salumi, an aperitivo with city views and a classic Bolognese dessert, and you’ve got a dinner worth booking your Sunday around.
Read more at Taste Bologna.
WITH A LOCAL GUIDE
Bologna food & Wine tour
Come hungry, because Bologna doesn’t do small bites. Follow a local through the old town and taste your way through more than 15 regional specialties: tigelle, cured meats, cheeses, tortellini, tagliatelle, local wines and, of course, proper artisanal gelato. In around three hours, you’ll discover exactly why Bologna is called Italy’s food capital. One delicious stop at a time.
Tour guide: Tours & The City
NEAR BOLOGNA
Wine Trekking among the Vineyards
Escape Bologna for a few hours and taste the countryside at Palazzo di Varignana. Set among the rolling hills of Emilia-Romagna, this beautiful estate produces its own wines and award-winning extra virgin olive oils. Explore the cellar, learn what makes these local products special and, most importantly, taste them. A wonderfully relaxed way to discover another delicious side of Bologna.
Visit the Palazzo di Varignana winery website.
