The town of Tirano, together with its surrounding area, is known for its unique natural beauty, its places rich in history and culture, its flavours that speak of tradition, but above all for its wine: the "red treasure" of this territory.
Since ancient times, viticulture has been a symbol of this area and has been defined as "heroic" due to the steep slopes that require more effort, risks and manual labour for cultivation: a commitment that is both professional and ethical, leading winemakers to respectfully preserve and protect the landscape and the working methods handed down from previous generations. Indeed, every steep slope in the valley has been converted into terraces for vine cultivation, creating a unique landscape characterised by rows of dry stone walls that help to give unique characteristics to the wines of Valtellina. Their stability is guaranteed by the careful selection of the stones and their precise positioning , without using binders. This "art of building dry stone walls" has been included in the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since November 2018.
Because of their great personality, Valtellina wines have been awarded the DOC (Controlled Denomination of Origin) and DOCG (Controlled and Guaranteed Denomination of Origin) marks. The Valtellina Superiore DOCG, made from the best Nebbiolo grapes in the area between Berbenno and Tirano, is a must. With its intense aroma, it is divided into the five sub-designations Maroggia, Sassella, Grumello, Inferno and Valgella. Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG ("Sfursat" in dialect), the wine par excellence of the area, is a dry raisin wine with an intense red colour that, following an ancient tradition, is produced from the selection of the best bunches of grapes left to dry during the winter on special "fruttai" in dry and well-ventilated places: thanks to the air and the mountain climate, the grapes lose 40% of their weight and concentrate the juice, giving rise to that special taste that has always characterised it.
Don't miss a walk among the terraced vineyards, an unforgettable trekking on the sunny side of Valtellina along the pedestrian route of the Via dei Terrazzamenti or by car along the Strada del Vino di Valtellina, from Tirano to Morbegno, to enjoy particularly impressive panoramic views and discover the immense cultural heritage of churches, prehistoric sites, rural wineries, farms, ancient villages, but also and above all for a tasting experience in a winery or lunch in a vineyard.
