Food and Wine Culture

I PRODOTTI TIPICI

Bresaola della Valtellina PGI

Light, delicious and wholesome, **Bresaola della Valtellina PGI** is one of the region’s signature products. It is made by preserving lean beef through a traditional process of salting and air-drying. The distinctive climate of Valtellina, with the cool, crisp air descending from the Alps, is the secret behind Bresaola’s unique character and unmistakable quality, making it a truly exceptional product that is difficult to replicate elsewhere.

Low in fat and rich in protein, Bresaola is an ideal choice for active lifestyles. It can be enjoyed on its own, or used as a versatile ingredient in creative recipes and refined dishes.

VALTELLINA APPLES PGI

Tra i prodotti tipici della Valtellina non possono mancare le meleAlthough production is limited, the apples are renowned for their exceptional quality and low environmental impact. They grow and ripen naturally, warmed by the sun and gently caressed by the mountain breeze, in the mid-slope valleys at altitudes ranging from 200 to 900 metres above sea level.

The varieties of Valtellina PGI apples include **Stark Delicious**, with its bright red skin and crisp, aromatic flavour; **Golden Delicious**, known for its sweet and fragrant taste; and the summer variety **Gala**, sweet and exceptionally juicy, which reaches full ripeness around mid-August.

VALTELLINA PDO CHEESES

Valtellina has a centuries-old cheesemaking tradition that has preserved the distinctive character and authenticity of its cheeses to this day. From the mountain pastures, where animals graze freely, come unique products such as **Bitto PDO** and **Valtellina Casera PDO**, both renowned for their exceptional quality and strong connection to the alpine territory.

**Bitto**, whose origins date back to Celtic times, is produced during the summer months on high-altitude mountain pastures. This raw-milk cheese captures the distinctive aromas of the alpine pastures, and its ageing process can last for up to **10 years**! **Valtellina Casera**, produced year-round in the valley, is a semi-fat cheese that is delicious both young and well-aged. It is also an essential ingredient in traditional Valtellina dishes such as **pizzoccheri** and **sciatt**.

VALTELLINA DOC AND DOCG WINES

Since Roman times, Valtellina has been a land of vineyards and fine wines. Along its extraordinary terraced vineyards, supported by more than 2,500 kilometres of dry-stone walls stretching across the Rhaetian side of the valley, some of Italy's most distinctive mountain wines are produced. Made primarily from Nebbiolo grapes, the wines of Valtellina are renowned for their elegance, character, and unique personality, shaped by the region's exceptional alpine terroir.

Among Valtellina's **DOCG** wines, two are not to be missed: **Sforzato** (or **Sfursat**), a distinctive dry red wine made from naturally dried grapes, and **Valtellina Superiore**, produced from Nebbiolo grapes grown in the area between Berbenno di Valtellina and Tirano. This prestigious wine is divided into five historic sub-zones: **Maroggia, Sassella, Grumello, Inferno,** and **Valgella**, each with its own distinctive character and expression of the valley's unique terroir.

Also worth tasting is **Rosso di Valtellina DOC**, a fresh, approachable wine intended for early drinking. Another excellent choice is **Alpi Retiche IGP**, a versatile appellation that includes red, rosé, white, sparkling, passito, *novello*, and late-harvest wines, offering a wide and interesting range of styles to suit every palate.

**PIZZOCCHERI DELLA VALTELLINA PGI**

The undisputed symbol of Valtellina's cuisine is **pizzoccheri**, a traditional dish rooted in the region's rural heritage. The key ingredients are buckwheat flour and wheat flour, which are combined to make a dark-colored dough. The dough is rolled out and cut into short ribbons, then cooked with potatoes and Savoy cabbage before being generously dressed with melted alpine butter and locally produced cheese. According to the original recipe preserved by the **Accademia del Pizzocchero di Teglio**, the dish is finished with a sprinkling of freshly ground black pepper.

OTHER VALTELLINA SPECIALTIES

Valtellina's food and wine heritage extends far beyond its PDO and PGI products. One product particularly worth mentioning is **Valtellina honey**, available in a wide variety of flavours, including rhododendron, chestnut, lime blossom, high-mountain wildflower, and acacia honey — there is something to suit every taste. Today, around **350 beekeepers** operate in the province of Sondrio, managing approximately **6,000 beehives** and producing an average of around **780 quintals (78 tonnes)** of honey each year.

Un altro prodotto tipico è il pane di segale**Rye**, a cereal believed to have been known in Valtellina as early as the period between the Copper Age and the Bronze Age, was cultivated in the region for many centuries. Its success was largely due to the plant’s remarkable ability to thrive in cold climates, withstand significant temperature fluctuations, and grow in poor soils. Today, the **Segale 100% Valtellina** project is gaining increasing popularity. Through this initiative, numerous bakeries across the province of Sondrio produce bread using rye flour sourced exclusively from Valtellina and grown without the use of pesticides. The result is a genuine, authentic **zero-kilometre local product**, deeply rooted in the region’s agricultural heritage.

And then there is **pesteda**, a traditional aromatic seasoning from Grosio; **Bisciola**, Valtellina’s characteristic sweet bread, which was awarded the **Collective Geographical Trademark** in 2013; and a range of other local products that have received the same recognition. These include **Latte Valtellina**, **Scimudin**, a delicate and fresh-tasting local cheese with a distinctive milky flavour, **Fiocco ham**, and the traditional **Valtellina porcini mushroom**.

Among the outstanding food and wine specialties of the province of Sondrio, **Violino di Capra** is another delicacy not to be missed. A traditional cured meat from Valchiavenna, it has a dry appearance yet a soft, tender and pleasantly rich texture on the palate. Its ageing process still takes place in the region’s characteristic… The Crotti of Valchiavenna – Traditional Mountain Cellars and Dining PlacesThe **crotti** are a distinctive cultural feature of Valchiavenna. They are not simply cellars, but natural chambers carved into the rock, where the *sorèl* (a natural current of air) maintains a constant temperature, creating the ideal conditions for preserving wines, cured meats and cheeses. Many of these traditional spaces have now been transformed into charming inns and restaurants, where visitors can experience the authentic flavours and hospitality of the valley. Finally, it is worth mentioning the excellent craft beers that further enrich Valtellina’s food and wine heritage, along with a selection of liqueurs, grappas and herbal bitters. Among these is Braulio, a renowned alpine herbal bitter that was created and is still produced in Bormio.