Production Rules of Valtellina Superiore DOCG
these Wine Production Rules born in 1998, territory: from Ardenno to Tirano (46 km).
The Rules provided four subzones from west to east:
- Sassella: 150 hectares (Castione and Sondrio municipalities)
- Grumello: 92 hectares (Sondrio and Montagna municipalities)
- Inferno: 69 hectares (Montagna, Poggiridenti and Tresivio municipalities)
- Valgella: 165 hectares (Chiuro (Fracia) and Teglio municipalities).
In 2002 born the 5th Subarea: Maroggia all included in the municipality of Berbenno with 25 hectares.
Then there is the area of the generic Valtellina Superiore covering the municipalities of Bianzone, Tirano and Tirano with 112 hectares.
In total there are nowasdays 613 DOP hectares.
Maximum yield per hectare 80 quintals. The Valtellina Superiore wine must be composed by a minimum of 90% of chiavennasca, 10% other authorized grape varieties including Pignola, Rossola and Brugnola. Minimum alcohol content 12% - minimum acidity 4,50 gr/litre in acid tartarico - dry minimum 23 g / litre.
Production Rules of Rosso di Valtellina DOC
They was founded in 1968 as the only rules encompassing all areas from Ardenno to Tirano (DOC and DOCG) and the same Sforzato.
Some first changes occurred in 1998 with the birth of the DOCG and then in 2003 when born Sforzato of Valtellina DOCG and lately in 2010 and 2011. The area is still included within the municipalities from Ardenno to Tirano (from west to East) outside the areas of DOCG zones with the addition of two areas on the left bank of the Adda: Stazzona (in the municipality of Villa di Tirano) and Albosaggia near Sondrio. The total of the Rosso di Valtellina area is about 190 hectares that if we add the 613 hectares of the docg zones we have in total 803 hectares planted throughout the area from Ardenno to Tirano.
Yield 100 q.li hectare. Minimum 90% must be chiavennasca, 10% others authorized grape varieties including Pignola, Rossola and Brugnola. Minimum alcohol content 11% - minimum acidity 4.50 gr/liter in tartaric acid - dry extract 20 g/liter.
The Rosso di Valtellina DOC born as a downgrading of the DOCG wines too, from not so good vintages.
Production Rules of Sfurzat di Valtellina DOCG
These rules was founded in 2003 retroactively with vintage 2001. The territory is the summatory of the DOCG + DOC. At the choice of the manufacturer ther grapes suitable for "withering" to become Sforzato may be collected in both areas. The yields per hectare and the composition of the grapes are the same as the Valtellina Superiore DOCG ones. The grapes left to dry on racks in the "fruttai" (a specified and typycal area in the winery to do only that) can not be crushed before 10 December. Maximum yield of grapes into wine: 50%. Since the harvest for the Sforzato starts 15/20 days before the normal harvest (at the end of September) the withering minimum time for the "appassimento" (withering period) is 70 days.
Minimum alcohol 14% - minimum acidity 4,50 gr/liter in acid tartarico - dry extract minimum 27 gr/liter.
Production Rules of IGT (IGP) Terrazze Retiche di Sondrio
These rules were approved in 1995 and were amended in 2009 and 2011 after incorporating some EEC rules.
The area to make this kind of wine is much larger than the DOP one. It includes a list of 35 municipalities in the province of Sondrio (where there are a total of 78 municipalities). The IGT zones includes the municipalities of the DOP area and others municipalities from Villa di Chiavenna (in Valchiavenna) to Sernio (a little area after Tirano in East direction).
The yield per hectare is 140 q.li. Regarding wines are included these kinds: white, red, rosé, raisin and late harvest wines. Probably it will add the Metodo Classico Spum,ante (sparkling wine). Minimun gradations for red, white and rosé wines is 10.50 vol., while for raisin wines maximun is 16% vol. - minimum of acidity 3.50 gr/liter in tartaric acid - dry extract 13 to 17 gr. as minimum. Authorized grape varieties: those foreseen in Lombardy. The area of IGT is about 400 hectares, so we can well say that the total area cultivated as vineyards in Valtellina is in total 1.200 hectares.
In DOP area the IGT wines are produced for relapse too, ie downgrading from Doc or DOCG wines for qualitative or quantitative matters (exceeding the amount determined by the Laws).