The hills of the province of Parma between the river Enza to the east and the stream Stirone to the west are the cradle of viticulture most typical and formerly known of Parma.
The lands of these areas, for geological formation, exposure and climatic characteristics, can be defined as “with a marked viticultural vocation”.
The altitude varies between 200 and 800 meters above sea level and includes all the municipalities that have land included in this range. The territories with the highest density of vineyards are, however, those of the valleys of the Parma and Baganza streams with the municipalities of Langhirano (Torrechiara and Casatico area), Felino (Barbiano area), Sala Baganza (Maiatico area and Boschi di Carrega); All the other municipalities of the hilly area contribute to enrich the production with particularly fine and fragrant grapes to obtain the products that the consumer appreciates.
The “historical” vines of Parma hilly viticulture “landed” in 1982 in the production specification of wines with controlled designation of origin “Colli di Parma” are aromatic Malvasia di Candia, Sauvignon blanc, Barbera, Bonarda, the latter gradually alternated by Croatina, so similar to Bonarda to have practically integrated with it also in the use of the name.
In more recent years other vines have been included in the revisions of the disciplinary after 1982, as they were proven not only their perfect acclimatization to the pedological and climatic characteristics of the Parma hilly territory, but also the acquisition of particular and specific peculiarities in relation to the cultivation soils, peculiarities not found for these same vines cultivated elsewhere and having characteristics conforming to the grapes and to the Colli di Parma wines of the oldest settlement. They are Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Lambrusco (Master varieties).
At the Rocca di Sala Baganza is set up the Wine Museum, The cellar of the Food Museums

Consorzio di Tutela Vini Colli di Parma