The most famous wine of Colli Piacentini is Gutturnio , Prince of Piacenza wines (represents almost 25 % of production) , and Malvasia ( 23 % of production) . Gutturnio (one of the first Italian wines that received a designation of origin) is obtained from a mixture of Barbera (from 55% to 70%) and Croatina , which is the local name for Bonarda ( 30-45 % ). This traditional sparkling wine is usually consumed young but is also suitable for ageing ( Gutturnio Reserve). Its identity and strong territorial bond is achieved by the combination of two complementary grapes with a different character ; Barbera, sensitive to rainfall , low in tannins and high in acidity , and Croatina which has thick skin , is rich in tannins and , unlike Barbera , enjoys a late ripening which makes for a higher sugar content. Together they create a well-balanced wine with a solid structure, a deep color and full flavor .
The white sister of the red Gutturnio is Malvasia . The variety of Candia grape which produces this wine is characterized by a very rich complex of aromas , with hints of citrus , fruit, flowers , herbaceous notes , honey , herbs and minerals (depending on the method of preparation). The production of Malvasia began in the 90s when the producers realized that this grape did well on poor clay soil. Malvasia is now one of the most distinctive white wines of the region and also one of the most fragrant wines of Italy .
Where Malvasia wine is thus fairly recent , Ortrugo is storically present in this region . The first mentions of the grape that gave the name to Ortrugo date from the early nineteenth century , when Bramieri described them by the name of Altruga which in the local dialect means ‘other grape’. The concept and name Ortrugo reappears in the ‘ampelographical ' Bulletin of 1881. Girolamo Molon, one of the most important Italian and European authors about wine of his time, publishes an ‘ampelography ' in 1906 which catalogues 450 varieties of wine. In this work he recognizes the variety of ' Ortrugo Rovescala’ , Pavese . The final name of Ortrugo comes only in 1927, when Professor Toni coins the current name for the first time on the pages of the "Italia Agricola” magazine, and defines Ortrugo as the main white wine in the Piacenza province. In the 20th century, because of the large spread in the province of Malvasia and Gutturnio, Ortrugo is relegated to a few acres and the grapes are never vinified alone . In 1967, with the creation of the Colli Piacentini DOC, Ortrugo almost disappeared. This happened also because of competition from major international grape varieties such as Chardonnay and Riesling . It was not until the seventies , thanks to the efforts of a number of growers that Ortrugo was rediscovered . In the eighties the vine gets recognition thanks to the interest of the University of Piacenza . The University changes the stipulation of the product Ortrugo so as for it to fall under the Colli Piacentini DOC wines in 2010. Since then Ortrugo has its own specification that includes three types of wine: still, slightly sparkling and sparkling wines . Today, this variety is primarily grown and produced in the Tidone valley and is again one of the most important wines of Piacenza .