The wine of Romagna loosens the tongue — the Sangiovese and Trebbiano wines of Romagna, drunk generously at meals and gatherings, release inhibitions and encourage the frankness and exuberance that are considered typical of the Romagnolo character.
Romagna has been producing wine since before the Romans arrived: the amphora-shaped hills of the Colli Romagnoli between Cesena and Rimini, and the valleys of the Faentino and the Modenese Apennines, are among the oldest viticultural areas of the peninsula. Sangiovese di Romagna — the most important red grape of the region, now also the basis of Chianti Classico in Tuscany — was already well established in Roman times: Pliny the Elder mentioned wine from the area. The Albana di Romagna is the first Italian white wine to receive DOCG status (1987), a fact that caused considerable national controversy since critics found it ordinary and suspected the designation was politically motivated — a claim the Romagnoli dismiss with a shrug and another glass. The wine culture of Romagna is democratic and convivial rather than aristocratic: wine is drunk at long communal tables with big portions of piadina, squacquerone cheese, and prosciutto. The Sagre (local food festivals) that fill the Romagna summer from June to September are built around wine, music, and the kind of unguarded sociability that the proverb names. A Romagnolo does not need much wine to speak his mind — but wine gives him the excuse he sometimes needs.
Reflects the convivial wine culture of Romagna, where Sangiovese di Romagna and Albana (Italy's first DOCG white wine) are drunk at communal tables with the frankness and exuberance considered characteristic of the Romagnolo temperament.
A host pouring wine at a family dinner where a shy guest has not spoken
Su, bevi un po' di Sangiovese. Al vèin d'Rumagna al slèga la lènga — e tu hai ancora tante cose da dire.
Come on, drink some Sangiovese. The wine of Romagna loosens the tongue — and you still have many things to say.
A Romagnolo at a summer sagra explaining the noise level to a visiting friend
Sembra caotico? Aspetta tra un'ora. Al vèin d'Rumagna al slèga la lènga — e allora sì che diventa davvero caotico.
It seems chaotic? Wait an hour. The wine of Romagna loosens the tongue — and then it truly becomes chaotic.
A wine producer describing the social function of Sangiovese di Romagna
Il nostro vino non è da degustazione solitaria. Al vèin d'Rumagna al slèga la lènga — è un vino da tavola lunga e da amicizie sincere.
Our wine is not for solitary tasting. The wine of Romagna loosens the tongue — it is a wine for long tables and sincere friendships.
An old man at a trattoria who has become very talkative after a carafe of local wine
— Nonno, hai già raccontato questa storia. — Al vèin d'Rumagna al slèga la lènga. Riaccontala — è ancora bella.
— Grandpa, you have already told this story. — The wine of Romagna loosens the tongue. Tell it again — it is still beautiful.