"True connoisseurs do not drink wine: they taste secrets. " - Salvador Dalí, Spanish painter and sculptor
To discover which are the main wines of Bergamo, we must reflect on the concept of territory. Visiting a territory, in fact, does not only mean observing the most characteristic places up close, but also get in touch with the traditions that have long characterised a people and their culture. One of the most interesting customs is certainly the interest in food and gastronomy. Unforgettable flavours and aromas can find their own form in the complex elaboration of a dish or the specificity of a product.
The Bergamo area offers the possibility of tasting high quality products of unparalleled valueSome of them are already nationally known, while others represent precious treasures to be discovered. The bergamasque cuisine can in fact count on cheeses, cured meats, polenta flour, mushrooms, truffles, as well as a wide and prestigious range of wines. In particular, we will focus on the latter in this article, wineand the most important aspects that characterise its world, viticulture.
Bergamo wines: quality and tradition
It must be remembered that they are about 800 hectares of vineyards that enrich Bergamo's soil, a tradition that in some areas boasts several centuries and even as many as four designations of origin:
- Moscato di Scanzo (DOCG )
- Valcalepio and Terre del Colleoni (2 DOC)
- Bergamasca (IGT)
The production capacity of these areas embraces different types of wine and is suited to satisfy even the most discerning and experienced palates. Taking a little plunge into the past, we discover that a large part of Bergamo's wines have an ancient and interesting origin. For example, the cultivation of special products such as the Moscato di Scanzo is traced back to Roman times who inherited it from a population of Celts. Cultivated in the hills of Scanzorosciate (BG), this wine is a faithful companion for sweets and desserts, with an alcohol content of no less than 17 degrees. It was the favourite wine of the Tsarina Catherine II of Russia which made him famous throughout Europe after Giacomo Quarenghi brought him right to her.
Bergamo's best wines: from the Middle Ages to the present day
Already in the 16th century Venice favoured the export to neighbouring provinces of wines that came from vineyards distributed along the hilly strip that extended from the Adda to Lake Sebino. Among his favourites was the red of the Valcalepio, a flagship wine of the Bergamo province. Also in the late 16th century, with the settlement of the Benedictines in the abbeys of Pontida and San Paolo d'Argon, began a series of local wine-growing activities that made these two towns the most important wine centres in the Bergamo area. Moreover, it should not be forgotten that in the 17th century, wines from the province of Bergamo could be found on the Milanese market. This was precisely the period in which they began to gain wider acceptance within various neighbouring culinary realities.
Returning to the present, it is evident today that interest in Bergamo wines has grown enormously. Farmers and entrepreneurs in the province of Bergamo are committed to preserving the local wine-growing reality, using oenological techniques that take into account environmental impact and climate change. The aim is to establish a fruitful collaboration between man and the environment by focusing on goodness and quality!
Wines of Bergamo: the tourist experience
The need to publicise Bergamo's winemaking reality has led to various initiatives that seek to involve tourists as well: at present, many local wineries are working to ensure that people know and appreciate their wine production, thus making the experience of tasting a unique and incredible moment. This is because certain flavours crystallise in our palate and even more so in our memory.
If you wish to discover the wine-growing reality offered by the Bergamo areawe advise you to consult the following pages: The best wines in the province of Bergamo
And to accompany the sweetness wine, listen to some good music, even better if in dialect! In this regard, we point out this witty song composed by the singer-songwriter from Bergamo Luciano Ravasio, "Zó ì ì e sö sit"(Down wine and up thirst). Good listening!
