Flavours and aromas of Valtellina

The Valtellina is a place for relaxation and good living, not least because of its inviting food and wine. Let's go and discover it

Although it may seem obvious that in Italy you can eat well just about anywhere, it is equally well known that some regions and provinces have more to offer than others in terms of food and wine delicacies for true connoisseurs.

This is true of Valtellina, a land of forests, mountains and amazing views, but also of natural foods that are the result of thepeasant tradition and of well-known red wines that are dry and full-bodied and go well with local dishes, perfectly enhancing their taste.

The region is sheltered from the cold winds from the north and the hot, humid winds from the south thanks to the protection offered by the crown of the Alps, but for many days a year it is bathed in the intense light of the mountain sun.

The microclimate here is particularly favourable for growing vines. The rest is down to the ancient flavours of a cuisine that has stood the test of time and the exquisite local specialities: from Pizzoccheri to Chisciol, from Bitto to Polenta taragna.

If your mouth is already watering and you'd like to find out more, follow us on our discovery tour of the tastiest places in Valtellina.

1. Pizzoccheri — Our eno-gastronomic itinerary starts from Teglio, a village in the heart of Valtellina located in a panoramic and sunny position at an altitude of 900 mt. a.s.l. For over four centuries, Teglio has been growing buckwheat, known as "furmentum", "fraina" or "farina negra", a practice that has now almost disappeared in the rest of Italy.

Read more

2. Bitto — The next stop on our discovery tour of the local flavours and aromas is Morbegno, the main town in the lower Valtellina lying on the Bitto cone and home to the cheese specialty that goes by the same name. A large, semi-hard cooked cheese with a cylindrical shape and straw-yellow rind, Bitto di Morbegno is made by processingraw whole cow's milk twice a day on the spot, immediately after milking, with the addition of no more than 10% of milk from Orobica goats, an animal native to the Val di Gerola.

Read more

3. Chisciol — From Morbegno to Tirano, just a stone's throw from the Swiss border, you can discover one of the most attractive towns in the whole of Valtellina, well worth a visit both for its thriving cultural and recreational outdoor life and for its food and wine delicacies. Here, after a ride along the Sentiero Valtellina, a rafting tour on the Adda river, a trekking excursion or an equally exciting trip on board the Red Train of the Bernina, there is nothing better than to refuel with some of the delicious local specialities.

Read more

4. Wine in Valtellina — It would be a real shame not to accompany the exquisite Valtellina dishes with a good local wine. Dating back to ancient times, the cultivation of vines has shaped the Valtellina landscape, giving life to the unique panorama of terraced vineyards and today boasting productions recognised by prestigious quality marks and world famous.

Read more

5. Bràulio — Our itinerary through the flavours and fragrances of the Valtellina ends in Bormio, a well known mountain tourist resort located in the Stelvio National Park. The production of Bràulio, a legendary bitter aged in enormous Slavonian oak barrels stored in the fascinating cellars beneath the old town centre of Bormio, is closely linked to the history of the place.

Read more

Wine and Flavor Trail Varese Valleys

It extends in the northern part of the Province of Varese, to the north of the capital city up to the border with the Swiss territory offering the opportunity to learn about the typical products and to discover the beauties of the landscape of the valleys and lakes

Food & Wine

The Truffle of Oltrepò Pavese

Food & Wine

Peperone di Voghera

The Voghera pepper is a native and valuable variety that deserves special attention for its unique organoleptic characteristics.

Food & Wine

Eating Lombardy

Lombardy shows its excellence with the unique and traditional flavors of each single territory, but it is also international cuisine

Food & Wine

Salame di Varzi D.O.P.

The origins of Varzi Salame are to be found in the dawn of time

Food & Wine

Taleggio

Taleggio DOP, a great talent of Italian cuisine makes Italians good forks, true gourmets

Food & Wine

Varese Local Products Guide

The typical products with which to prepare the dining table are varied and include all the dishes: from appetizers to desserts

Food & Wine

Milan, capital of taste

From the skyscrapers to the fields of crops. Milan is a city of thousand cultures and its surrounding area a land of a thousand flavours

Food & Wine

Cipolla Rossa di Breme

The Breme Red Onion has been documented since the 10th century, dating back to the foundation of the famous abbey, which in the following centuries became one of the most important in Europe.

Food & Wine

Cremona Nougat Recipe

It is a variation of the traditional sweet that includes the addition of aromas such as vanillin and candied fruit, which make the mixture softer based on sugar, honey and album

Food & Wine

A toast to the vineyards and wineries of Lombardy

Lombard vineyards and wineries are eager to welcome tourists and visitors to enjoy the last phases of the harvest.

Food & Wine

Panettone recipe

The secret of the preparation of the panettone: one of the typical sweets of the Milanese tradition

Food & Wine

Teglio, the home of pizzoccheri

The small Valtellina town of Teglio is the home of pizzoccheri, the tasty dish of buckwheat pasta with cheese and vegetables

Food & Wine

Zucca Berrettina di Lungavilla

In Lungavilla, a pumpkin known as “Capé da prèvi” (priest’s hat) is cultivated, named for its shape, which resembles the headgear worn by priests.

Food & Wine

Consortium Salami Cremona IGP

An institution to identify, safeguard and promote on the market a typical product of the Po valley

Food & Wine

Mushrooms

Valtellina

Food & Wine

Gorgonzola

A DOP cheese from the Province of Milan

Food & Wine

A little bit of Valtellina on the table: sciatt

Food & Wine

A journey through the unique flavors of Lombardy

Food & Wine

IGP Apples of Valtellina

This type of apple has all the characteristics of mountain apple: crunchy, fragrant, aromatic and juicy

Food & Wine