Vernaccia Nera wine route Voyage Tips and guide

Vernaccia Nera wine route is the first tourist and food and wine itinerary created in the WikiM.A.R.C.A project. This route is developed around the village of Serrapetrona, in Marche Region (in Central Italy), and the areas producing the Vernaccia of Serrapetrona wine DOCG and Serrapetrona wine DOC.

The tour aims to enhance the Vernaccia Nera vine of Serrapetrona, by proposing active involvement of local producers and the community of the area where this grape variety is produced.

This itinerary is suitable for wine lovers who want to explore the hills of the Marche region and discover the traditions surrounding Vernaccia Nera. It is ideal for travelers who enjoy slow tourism visiting small villages, vineyards and tasting local food.

The historic centre of Serrapetrona is surrounded by medieval city walls. It keeps a lot of artworks with great cultural value, distributed within various churches and museums. The territory of Serrapetrona also offers several typical products, such as Vernaccia Nera.

Vernaccia Nera is a red grape variety native to this area. This is a native variety grown only in the Serrapetrona area and in some limited surrounding areas and is available in two types of wine: Vernaccia di Serrapetrona DOCG, the only red sparkling wine in the world with three fermentations, and Serrapetrona DOC, the version of still red wine.

Vernaccia Nera is different from the ones produced in Tuscany and Sardinia, which are white grape varieties. Since 2004, the Marche region has certified DOCG sparkling wine and DOC still wine.

Moreover, this type of grape is used to make other specialties such as jam, biscuits and traditional Italian holiday desserts.

The path includes wineries located in the zones of production of Vernaccia Nera grape: Serrapetrona and a part of Caldarola and San Severino Marche villages. But It also extends to a winery in Civitanova Marche.

You can do this itinerary throughout the year, as wineries in the area are generally open to visitors and the climate is favourable in most seasons. Winter tends to be quieter and there are fewer events, while spring and summer offer a livelier atmosphere and greener landscapes. A particularly interesting time to visit is in November, during the Appassimenti Aperti festival: local producers open doors of their wineries to visitors and present "appassimenti", special places where there are dried grapes.

The stops on this itinerary include a visit to the Vernaccia of Serrapetrona DOC and DOCG wineries, all located outside the city centre: therefore, travel by car or bicycle is recommended.

Visitors interested in winery tours, tastings, or other activities are advised to book in advance, especially during weekends and local events, as many wineries require reservations for guided visits and tastings.

The best way to reach the itinerary stops is using the car: If you are coming from the north or the south, take the Civitanova Marche–Macerata exit on the Autostrada A14. From there, follow the Strada Statale 77 dual carriageway toward Tolentino/Macerata and exit at Macerata Ovest–Sforzacosta. Then continue along the SP 78 provincial road toward Ascoli Piceno, following the signs for Serrapetrona.

The itinerary can also be done by bicycle, but it is recommended for experienced cyclists as the route crosses the hilly countryside of the Marche region. A convenient starting point is Macerata, which can be reached by train and offers connections to the surrounding countryside. From there, cyclists can follow secondary provincial roads toward Serrapetrona, passing through vineyards and small rural villages. Traffic is generally light, but some stretches include steep climbs.

43°9′47″N 13°13′1″E

Map of Vernaccia Nera wine route

This wine route starts from the production area of the Vernaccia Nera grape variety. You will find five wineries in Serrapetrona and two more situated in Caldarola and San Severino Marche. You can find information about one last more winery in the village of Civitanova Marche.

The path can be done by car or bicycle and doable in one day.

• 43.175113.19051 Serrapetrona
• 43.22828213.180282 San Severino Marche
• 43.13816913.2251393 Caldarola
• 43.313.7166674 Civitanova Marche

From Serrapetrona, go along Via Colli towards San Severino Marche. In the North of the village centre, among the hills, there are the first two wineries of our itinerary: 43.18648813.2055141 Cantina Quacquarini Alberto and 43.19077513.1889572 Colleluce.

The first one is a historic winery dedicated to the production of Vernaccia of Serrapetrona. It was founded in 1958 by Alberto Quacquarini. Today, it is managed by his sons. This winery is the largest producer of Vernaccia of Serrapetrona DOCG, with 35 hectares of vineyards planted mainly with Vernaccia Nera, a grape variety used almost exclusively for this appellation. To complement its activities, the company has also recently opened a showroom in the centre of Serrapetrona, dedicated to welcoming visitors and direct sales.

The second one, owned by Franca Malavolta & C., is a small family-run winery. Its history has its roots in the legacy of the previous owner, Francioni, who had been producing and marketing Vernaccia of Serrapetrona since the 1960s, bringing the distinctive characteristics, aromas, colours and flavours of the region to the area. In 1998, Mr Bruno purchased the Colleluce estate in order to produce this particular type of wine, and later, his wife Franca joined him and the family in running the business.

To reach the next stop, come back to Serrapetrona and take the SP 502, provincial road, to arrive at 43.16854813.196313 Terre di Serrapetrona - Tenuta Stefano Graidi. It combines a focus on quality with a strong respect for local traditions, as part of a project aimed at restoring historic vineyards and rediscovering the cultural ties between wine production and the local community. A tasting room overlooking the vineyards has also been created to welcome visitors and host various events. This winery offers a range of experiences, from visits to the fruit cellar and barrel cellar to the possibility of hiring electric mountain bikes to ride along an exclusive sensory trail through the vineyards.

From this estate, a 3-minute drive away, you will find the 43.15531513.1981554 Cantina Serboni, which has handed down the tradition and practice of producing Vernaccia of Serrapetrona from generation to generation.

Continuing towards Lake Caccamo, you will arrive at the hamlet of Borgiano, where you can visit 43.15504113.2078655 Podere sul lago, a young winery dedicated to the production of Vernaccia Nera. Deeply connected to the land, the winery operates using traditional methods and focuses its activities on promoting the native grape variety and the surrounding hilly territory.

Then take the SP 60 road to Carpignano, a hamlet of San Severino Marche, where you will find the 43.19849713.2217666 Cantina VerSer winery. This is another family-run business that began with Giuseppe's early experiments in the cellar. His grandson Matteo continued the tradition, transforming his experience into a concrete project. The vineyards cover and develop over approximately 3 hectares, where Vernaccia Nera vines are mainly cultivated, with a smaller area dedicated to Pecorino wine.

Finally, take the SS77 road. The itinerary ends at the 43.13012113.2219737 Azienda Vinicola Rocchi in Caldarola, on the edge of the Vernaccia Nera cultivation area, beyond which the production of Vernaccia of Serrapetrona is no longer permitted. The Rocchi winery has historically focused its production on the native Vernaccia Nera grape variety. Surrounded by green hills, you can admire unspoilt landscapes.

In addition, you can take the Civitanova Marche-Macerata Provincial Road/SP485 to reach the 43.3086513.679638 Fontezoppa winery. Unlike the seven wineries in the Serrapetrona, San Severino Marche and Caldarola areas, Fontezoppa is located in Civitanova Marche and not in the municipality of Serrapetrona and its surroundings, but it owns about 20 hectares of vineyards in the Vernaccia Nera production area, thus falling within the category of wineries that can produce DOCG sparkling wine.

Drink responsibly and obey the rules of the road. Do not drive after drinking.

Near Serrapetrona, there is Lake Caccamo, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the region, where you can sunbathe in summer and hire canoes or pedal boats.

Overlooking the lake, you can visit Caldarola, an important artistic and cultural centre in the area where a lively school of painting developed under the guidance of the painter Simone De Magistris. Caldarola is also home to the Palace of the Pallotta Counts, the residence of one of the most important families of the Papal States.

In the North of Serrapetrona, you can reach San Severino Marche, another important artistic center in the area. Since 2022, the MARec, the museum of recovered art, has been located here, displaying many of the works of art that survived the earthquake in central Italy in 2016.