Emilia Romagna

This sits above Tuscany and extends across the top of the Italian peninsula, south of the Po river, from the Adriatic Sea to nearly the west coast of the country.  Its capital and largest city if Bologna and tourists flock to this food mecca as well as other major cities Modena and Parma seeking gastronomical enlightenment.  In the wine world, Emilia Romagna is best known the fizzy red wines made from Lambrusco grapes.  This style is making a comeback is particularly suited to washing down salty Parma ham.  It is the third largest wine producing region in Italy, after Puglia and Veneto.   The region’s primary grape varieties are Trebbiano (white) and Lambrusco (red) and Sangiovese (red).