Legal reference:
The controlled designation of origin (DOC) was attributed to Albana on 21 July 1967. Albana di Romagna was the first white wine in Italy to be awarded the guaranteed and controlled designation of origin (DOCG) on 13 April 1987. DOCG is the highest classification which can be applied to a wine.

Albana di Romagna DOCG comes in three types:

Dry:
14 tons of maximum production per hectare with a grape yield not higher than 65%. It is straw-coloured, with golden reflections when it is aged. Its delicate bouquet is typical of Albana. The taste is dry, warm and harmonic, slightly tannic. Best to be drunk young at 10°C. The total minimum alcohol content is 11.50°.

Sweet and semi-sweet:
The maximum production per hectare is 14 tons and the grape yield should not be higher than 65%. It is straw-coloured, with golden reflections when it is aged. Its delicate bouquet is typical of Albana, while the taste is semi-sweet or sweet, fruity, pleasant and distinctive. Best to be drunk young at 8-10°C. The total minimum alcohol content is 12°.

Passito:
The maximum production per hectare is 14 tons and the grape yield should not be higher than 50%. It is a golden yellow wine with amber reflections. The bouquet is intense and distinctive, the taste is velvety, pleasantly semi-sweet or sweet. It is not sold before April the first after the harvest. It should be drunk at 12°C as it is a long-lived wine. The total minimum alcohol content is 15.5%.

Production area :
Part of the provinces of Forlì-Cesena, Ravenna, Bologna and Rimini.

Food matches:

Dry:
Suitable throughout the meal. Ideal with fish in general, and particularly with shellfish, seafood and fish soups. It can also be matched with fois gras and white meat, notably with chicken in jelly, brains and sweetbreads. Excellent with garganelli in a meat sauce, soups with broth and creams.

Semi-sweet and sweet:
In the countryside, they are traditionally served with ciambella, a typical cake of Romagna. They are also well-matched with fruit tarts, zuppa inglese, ravioli and fruit, with the exception of fresh figs, grape and citrus fruits.

Passito:
Ideal with pastry, dried fruit, blue-green marbled cheeses, walnuts, pears, honey and mustard. Also excellent outside mealtimes.

Historical and geographical information:
The origins of Albana are shrouded in mystery. The legend goes that Galla Placidia, daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Teodosio, tasted this wine during a halt in a village in Romagna. After drinking Albana from a rough terracotta jug, she was enraptured by the excellence of that nectar and said, “You should not be drunk in such a humble vessel, but rather in gold, to pay homage to your sweetness.” Since then, Albana was served in precious golden cups at the Ravenna court. Moreover, the village where the princess stopped to rest was called Bertinoro (in Italian, “berti in oro” means “drink you in gold”) and this is still its name. It is also believed that Frederick I Barbarossa, who was guest of Countess Frangipane in Bertinoro, appreciated Albana very much and got frequently drunk.

Protection association:
Ente Tutela Vini di Romagna
48018 Faenza (Ra) - C.so Garibaldi, 2
Tel. +39 0546 28455 Fax +39 0546 665063
entevini@mbox.queen.it

Comitato D.O.C. Colli d'Imola
via Boccaccio, 27 - 40026 Imola (BO)
Tel. +39 0542 602400 e Fax +39 0542 602426
agricoltura@comune.imola.bo.it

Related events:
"Calici di Stelle" (Wine under the stars) – Imola, Dozza, Fontanelice.

“10^ Prova d’assaggio dei Vini dell’Imolese” a competition among the wines produced in Imola’s area. Wine tasting also takes place under the guide of professional sommeliers of A.I.S. (The Italian Association of Sommeliers). It is held during Baccanale, a festival featuring cultural initiatives as well as events related to wine and food.