Now that you know where to stay between Forlì and Cesena, it's time to discover the historic wineries that make these hills unique. Bertinoro isn't just the Balcony of Romagna: it's the gateway to Romagnolo wine culture.
Morning light filters through rows of Sangiovese vines sketching perfect geometries across the hills. From the vineyards rises the scent of damp earth and must, while in the distance appears the profile of Bertinoro, its fortress dominating the valley. If we've already told you why staying near Forlì and Cesena means choosing the Bertinoro hills, today it's time to discover what makes this territory truly special: its wineries.
Bertinoro is recognized as the capital of Romagnolo wine, the beating heart of the Wine and Flavors Route of the Forlì-Cesena Hills. Here viticulture isn't an industry but a tradition passed down through generations, where each winery preserves stories of families, terroir, and passion. And to visit them properly takes more than a day: it requires a strategic base, comfortable and authentic.
The Wine and Flavors Route of the Forlì-Cesena Hills is an itinerary winding over 100 kilometers through the hills, connecting medieval villages, historic wineries, agriturismos, and vineyards as far as the eye can see. Bertinoro is its nerve center: from here depart routes touching Predappio, famous for Sangiovese di Romagna Superiore, Meldola, Castrocaro Terme, and the hills overlooking the Adriatic.
The area's wineries offer diverse experiences: from small family operations where the winemaker personally tells the story of each bottle, to more structured wine resorts with guided tastings, food pairings, and vineyard tours. Sangiovese is the undisputed king, but don't miss tasting Albana, the first Italian white wine to earn DOCG status, Pagadebit, fresh and easy-drinking, and Cagnina, sweet and full-bodied, perfect for autumn.
To visit Romagna's wineries properly requires accommodation that's simultaneously convenient, central, and immersed in the territory's atmosphere. Bertinoro offers several options meeting these characteristics: agriturismos in the hills with vineyard views, hotels in the historic center with panoramic terraces, charming apartments allowing you to experience the borgo like a local.
Casa Cavour Bertinoro, for instance, is located in the heart of the historic center, steps from the Rocca fortress and main square. The position is strategic: the nearest wineries are just a few kilometers away, reachable by car in under 15 minutes. The fully equipped kitchen allows you to bring home products purchased at wineries and prepare dinners with local cured meats, cheeses, and wines. The view over the hills from the window constantly reminds you where you are: in the heart of wine country Romagna.
Agriturismos like Agriturismo al Colle, immersed directly in the vineyards, offer an even more immersive experience: rooms with views, dinners featuring farm products, swimming pools in greenery, and often the possibility to taste wines produced on-site. For those seeking maximum enological comfort, Borgo Condé Wine Resort in Predappio (just 25 minutes by car from Bertinoro) is a resort entirely dedicated to wine tourism, with an internal cellar and tasting packages.
Anyone looking for somewhere to stay to visit Romagna's wineries often doesn't want a wine resort with structured packages, but a simple base: somewhere to return to between visits, bring home the bottles they've bought, and plan their days winery by winery without being tied to fixed times or half board.
Casa Cavour answers exactly that. The fully equipped kitchen lets you open in the evening what you bought at a winery that morning, without depending on a hotel restaurant. Self check-in leaves your return time free, useful if a tasting runs long. And the location in the historic centre, 10-15 minutes from the Predappio wineries, means you don't have to choose between sleeping isolated among the vines or staying close to the village's amenities.
Organizing winery visits requires minimal planning. Most wineries welcome visitors by reservation, especially for guided tastings and lunches. From Bertinoro you can easily reach the wineries of Predappio (25 minutes by car), celebrated for Sangiovese Riserva; those of Castrocaro Terme, where wine and thermal wellness meet; and small estates scattered between Meldola, Civitella, and the hills toward Cesena.
A classic itinerary might include two wineries per day: a morning visit with tasting, lunch at an agriturismo or local osteria, and a second winery in the afternoon. This pace allows you to savor the experience unhurried, speak with producers, and truly understand the philosophy behind each wine. Evening finds you back in Bertinoro, perhaps with a few bottles in the trunk and a clear idea of where to return.
Every season has its charm for visiting Romagnolo wineries. Spring brings vineyards in bloom and awakening nature; summer offers long, warm sunsets perfect for winery aperitifs with views; autumn is harvest time, when hills turn gold and red and the air smells of must. Many wineries organize special events during harvest, with opportunities to participate in grape picking.
Winter, often underrated, is actually an ideal season for wine lovers: fewer tourists, more attention from producers, and the chance to taste newly bottled wines beside the fireplace. Bertinoro in winter has an intimate, authentic atmosphere, perfect for those seeking a personal experience with the territory.
Visiting Romagna's wineries means more than just tasting wines. It means connecting with a territory that has made food and wine culture its identity. Each winery visit can be completed with a walk among the vines, a stop at a village osteria to taste piadina with squacquerone cheese and prosciutto, a visit to medieval villages dotting the hills.
From Bertinoro, beyond wineries, you easily reach farmers' markets where you can buy cave-aged cheeses, artisanal cured meats, and local extra virgin olive oil. The Castrocaro thermal baths offer relaxation moments between wineries. Wine museums tell the story of Romagnolo viticulture. It's a 360-degree experience where every element interweaves with the others.
If you're planning a wine journey in Romagna, Bertinoro is the perfect base: central, authentic, immersed in vineyards yet just kilometers from Forlì, Cesena, and major transportation routes. Casa Cavour Bertinoro offers the ideal balance between modern comfort and borgo atmosphere, with the possibility to experience the historic center and depart daily to discover new wineries, new flavors, new stories.
Whether you're an expert enthusiast or simply wine-curious, these hills have something to tell you. And the best thing is discovering it at your own pace, staying where wine isn't just a product but a living culture. Find availability and more information to book Casa Cavour Bertinoro directly on Airbnb.
On the Casa Cavour Bertinoro blog you will find more articles about the territory, local experiences and lesser-known paths through the Romagna hills. Each story tells a different side of this land.
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