Modena Wine Region

Modena is a small town in the heart of Emilia-Romagna's wine growing region. Known largely as the "Lambrusco zone," it's bounded by two rivers and is home to many vineyards that produce high-quality wines. On our website- winetourism.com we provide  the wineries in Modena open to visitors. You can take a tour of one of the many vineyards or wine-tasting centers in the region to learn more about their producing process. You will also be able to try out some regional food, which is generally associated with that area. Modena’s success is the result of its refined grapes and distinctive climate. This produces wine with a flavor that you won't find anywhere else in Italy, or the world.

Check out the best wine tastings and tours in Modena Wine Region

Where is the Modena Wine Region

Modena is in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, between Parma and Bologna.

History of Modena Wine

Emilia-Romagna has been one of Italy's oldest wine regions since ancient times. The Etruscans introduced the vine to the region, and the Romans, who got it from the Etruscans, used the Via Emilia. There was A town of Modena, located in Emilia and used to transport wine between Roman cities. For centuries, the grape varieties used here are more of the Vitis labrusca variety than the global Vitis vinifera variety. Modena received its own DOC in 2009 and has grown to be the commercial, industrial and cultural centre of the province.

Terrior of Modena

The climate and soil of the Modena wine region is excellent for producing fine wines. Modena has a humid subtropical climate with continental influences. The summers are really warm and mostly sunny, winters are cool, with snowfall. The temp typically varies from 0°c to 31°c and it rarely goes below -3.8°c or above 35°c. The soils are rich with minerals. The hillsides offer a perfect mix of soil; they are made up of rocky, limestone and chalk soils. The hot dry climate is kept at bay by the cooling breezes from the Adriatic sea. This has lead to higher-quality wine production.

Modena Wine Characteristics 

Modena wines are divided into two categories. First, there are the light and semi-sparkling frizzante wines. Then there are the foaming spumante wines. It is made by mixing different types of grapes together. 85% of Lambrusco wine is made from a variety of grapes cultivated in the province of Modena, while at least 15% can be made from Ancellotta, Malbo Gentile, or Fortana grapes. The Modena wine has a lovely ruby-red color, violet hints in the foam, a pleasant floral, fruity smell and emphasizes on floral and fruity tones. All Modena wines are of low alcohol.

Food to pair with Modena Wine

1. Cotechino in galera

Cotechino in galera is a traditional Italian dish originating from Emilia-Romagna. It's especially popular in Modena. The dish consists of cotechino, a fresh pork sausage that contains cotica (cooked pork skin) or pork rinds, giving it a unique texture. In this dish, the sausage is 'in prison' (in galera). This means it's placed inside a rolled beef. The sausage meat is spread over a slice of beef before rolling and then covered with pancetta. This recipe calls for the mixture in red wine to be mixed with carrots, onions, celery and bay leaves before being sautéed in butter. The rolled-up sausage is then simmered alongside this marinade. This dish is perfect for wines from the Modena region.

2. Passatelli in brodo

Pasatelli in broth is a specialty dish from the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy, consisting of dumplings made from cheese, bread and eggs served in a broth. This soup is known as 'cuisine of the poor' because it used to be created with whatever ingredients people had at the time. It is recommended to pair the soup with a Modena wine.

3. Borlengo

Borlengo is a 20-year-old Italian food item which is traditionally made from water, flour, and eggs. Due to the lack of higher quality ingredients available to poorer people at the time, borlengo pancakes are very thin in texture. Today, size matters. You could say that pancakes in the current era are super sized with lots of delicious toppings. Borlengo pairs well with Modena wines.

Places to visit near Modena

1. Museo Enzo Ferrari

Enzo Ferrari's birthplace and modern museum tells about his life and work through various multimedia exhibits, an art gallery, and a large collection of his racing cars. If you have a particular interest in Ferrari cars, don't miss the opportunity to stop at the Museo Ferrari- which is just 19 kilometers away from Modena.

2. Piazza Grande UNESCO World Heritage Site

Overlooked by the cathedral and the Ghirlandina Tower, Piazza Grande is a huge public space at the heart of Modena. It's also part of UNESCO World Heritage site designation. This church has had an important position before the building of the cathedral: it was used to organise civil and ecclesiastic power.

3. Casa Museo Luciano Pavarotti

Anyone will be able to enjoy Luciano Pavarotti's home as it is filled with mementos and artifacts of his illustrious life. As you explore through the various rooms, you'll be able to find costumes, awards, photographs and family memories belonging to him.

Frequently asked questions about Modena Wine Region