Oltrepò Pavese: discovering the area with its villages and DOC wines

The southern part of the province of Pavia south of the River Po is a magical territory dominated by gentle hills and green vines. Whether you go there to eat or to enjoy the scenery, the Oltrepò Pavese offers delightful vistas and unique leisure experiences in keeping with tradition. Here are some ideas for a trip out of town to discover the most beautiful historic villages or along the wine route of the third most important DOC area in Italy.

Oltrepò Pavese is the area south of the River Po in the province of Pavia. Here the wine is an expression of the territory together with many villages and castles that confirm the identity of the territory. Hectares of history, hectolitres of tradition: in Oltrepò Pavese the cultivation of vines is a vocation by virtue of the soil and climate conditions of the territory, but the beauty of the scenery is also due to the great enhancement of the territory, a mission for the local inhabitants. That's why there are so many things to do and see in the Oltrepò Pavese.
 
In this region there are many villages and castles, the heritage of the feudal history of strategic territory, but not only that. In Oltrepò Pavese scenery and tradition meet in places of natural interest and in the most popular wellness destinations: the Terme di Rivanazzano and the Terme di Miradolo are obligatory stops for those who wish to relax in the local beneficial waters.
 
There is no escape in the name of relaxation that does not involve the discovery of local flavors. In Oltrepò Pavese, genuine gastronomic tradition is an expression of the territory: among the typical products of the Oltrepò Pavese, there are Varzi salami, cotechino sausage, Voghera's coppa (pork neck salami), and fruit pickles. At the table, a good meal includes agnolotti pavesi (local ravioli), mixed boiled meats, and a hillside cheese, perhaps Nisso di Menconico. Voghera peppers are used to prepare an exquisite risotto and do not forget that the Oltrepò Pavese is also famous for chestnuts, mushrooms, and truffles. Finally, the most representative sweets are doughnuts (brasadè) and  Voghera "soup".

Among the excellences of the Oltrepò Pavese territory, there are obviously wines. The Consortium for the protection of Oltrepò Pavese wines protects and supports the production of the fine DOC and DOCG wines of the third-largest Italian DOC area, as well as the first wine-growing region in Lombardy. Classic method, careful oenological practices, wineries that make the most of the grapes and the territory: the DOC denomination includes thirty-six different types of wine, each unique in structure, bouquet, and characteristics.
 
The eastern area of Oltrepò Pavese is known for the cultivation of the most important black grapes, therefore Barbera and Bonarda. If this is the area of enviable red wines, white wines emerge in the upper Valle Versa and upper Valle Scuropasso: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Italian Riesling, Moscato; the grapes that produce still white wines expression of the territory are grown towards the bottom of the valley, at a lower altitude.
 
In the Oltrepò Pavese, wine tourism is a great asset. One of the food and wine routes in the area is the Oltrepò Pavese wine and taste route which includes wineries and farms spread over 78 municipalities and tasting stages along an itinerary about 60 km long.
 
 The numerous fairs, patronal festivals, and tastings that take place in the Oltrepò Pavese, mostly in the summer months are an opportunity for contact between producers and consumers. A fine example of the promotion of the territory, for many years, the most successful event has been the OltreVini in Casteggio, while this year another event Golferenzo SaXbere, Street Food & Wine was a great success, while  The Vie del Gusto, a traveling dinner with six stops dedicated to the tasting of sparkling wines and wines, was held in Stradella.

Fortunago and Zavattarello are two of the places that symbolize the Oltrepò Pavese, and it is no surprise that they appear in the ranking of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Both are known for their magical atmosphere due to their natural setting in the rolling hills; above Zavattarello stands the Dal Verme Castle while the small hamlet of Fortugnago Costa Cavalieri is also home to an interesting dance orchestra shows at the "Giardino d'estate" venue.

Golferenzo is a small village with just over two hundred inhabitants, home to the Museum of Corkscrews and the vines that provide the finest white wines. Going back to the castles, the view from the Castle of Stefanago is a delightful panorama that is well worth a trip as well as a stop at the Cantina del Castello to taste local products.

San Ponzo is a small village dating from medieval times. A leisurely walk through the woods leads to the Caves of San Ponzo making the location a perfect combination of natural scenery and history. A little further east, situated along the ancient Via del Sale (Salt Road), you will find Varzi, a medieval village that with the Castle of Malaspina and... local salami is a major local attraction.

Near Ponte Nizza, there is also the Hermitage of Sant'Alberto di Butrio, a picturesque place of prayer located on a rocky ridge in the Voghera Apennines at 700 meters above sea level. This monastery harmoniously brings together religious faith, natural beauty, and history. The tour ends in the magical villages of Montesegale, Mornico Losana, and Borgo Priolo, which are part of the District of Villages and Castles of the Oltrepò Pavese Area.