What is made here
Wine colours
Colours the rules allow. Pick a colour to filter the rules and grapes below.
Where it is
Modena in Italy
- Latitude
- 44.4°–45.0° N
- Vineyard altitude
- 19 m to 262 m
- Production zone
- 174,120 ha
Contains 3 appellations (outlined on the zone map)
Lambrusco di Sorbara, Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro, Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce
Worked out from the boundaries (smallest container first). They follow whole communes, so a neighbour sharing a commune can show up here too.
Boundary drawn from whole communes, so it is a little larger than the legal zone. Boundary: Eurac Research PDO inventory (CC0). Country outlines: Natural Earth. Dots on the zone map are the vineyard points used for climate.
Showing every colour The colour filter changes the rules and grapes. Climate, vintages and soils describe the vineyards, so they stay the same.
01 · What the law says
The rules
Limits on grapes, yields, ripeness and ageing that every wine labelled Modena must meet.
Blend rules
Modena Lambrusco Frizzante/Lambrusco di Modena Frizzante
- ≥ 85% Lambrusco Grasparossa / Lambrusco Salamino / Lambrusco di Sorbara / Lambrusco Marani / Lambrusco Maestri / Lambrusco Montericco / Lambrusco Oliva / Lambrusco a foglia frastagliata / Lambrusco Viadanese / Lambrusco Barghi / Lambrusco Benetti / Lambrusco del Pellegrino · Main grape
- ≤ 15% Ancellotta / Malbo gentile / Fortana · Allowed
Blend rules
Modena Lambrusco Rosato Frizzante/Lambrusco Rosato di Modena Frizzante
- ≥ 85% Lambrusco Grasparossa / Lambrusco Salamino / Lambrusco di Sorbara / Lambrusco Marani / Lambrusco Maestri / Lambrusco Montericco / Lambrusco Oliva / Lambrusco a foglia frastagliata / Lambrusco Viadanese / Lambrusco Barghi / Lambrusco Benetti / Lambrusco del Pellegrino · Main grape
- ≤ 15% Ancellotta / Malbo gentile / Fortana · Allowed
Blend rules
Modena Lambrusco Novello Frizzante/Lambrusco di Modena Novello Frizzante
- ≥ 85% Lambrusco Grasparossa / Lambrusco Salamino / Lambrusco di Sorbara / Lambrusco Marani / Lambrusco Maestri / Lambrusco Montericco / Lambrusco Oliva / Lambrusco a foglia frastagliata / Lambrusco Viadanese / Lambrusco Barghi / Lambrusco Benetti / Lambrusco del Pellegrino · Main grape
- ≤ 15% Ancellotta / Malbo gentile / Fortana · Allowed
Blend rules
Modena Rosso Frizzante/Rosso di Modena Frizzante
- ≥ 85% Lambrusco Grasparossa / Lambrusco Salamino / Lambrusco di Sorbara / Lambrusco Marani / Lambrusco Maestri / Lambrusco Montericco / Lambrusco Oliva / Lambrusco a foglia frastagliata / Lambrusco Viadanese / Lambrusco Barghi / Lambrusco Benetti / Lambrusco del Pellegrino · Main grape
- – altri vitigni a bacca nera idonei per la regione Emilia-Romagna · Others allowed
Blend rules
Modena Rosso Novello Frizzante/Rosso di Modena Novello Frizzante
- ≥ 85% Lambrusco Grasparossa / Lambrusco Salamino / Lambrusco di Sorbara / Lambrusco Marani / Lambrusco Maestri / Lambrusco Montericco / Lambrusco Oliva / Lambrusco a foglia frastagliata / Lambrusco Viadanese / Lambrusco Barghi / Lambrusco Benetti / Lambrusco del Pellegrino · Main grape
- – altri vitigni a bacca nera idonei per la regione Emilia-Romagna · Others allowed
Blend rules
Modena Rosato Frizzante/Rosato di Modena Frizzante
- ≥ 85% Lambrusco Grasparossa / Lambrusco Salamino / Lambrusco di Sorbara / Lambrusco Marani / Lambrusco Maestri / Lambrusco Montericco / Lambrusco Oliva / Lambrusco a foglia frastagliata / Lambrusco Viadanese / Lambrusco Barghi / Lambrusco Benetti / Lambrusco del Pellegrino · Main grape
- – altri vitigni a bacca nera idonei per la regione Emilia-Romagna · Others allowed
Blend rules
Modena Bianco Frizzante/Bianco di Modena Frizzante
- ≥ 85% Montuni / Grechetto gentile / Trebbiano · Main grape
- ≤ 15% altri vitigni a bacca bianca, non aromatici · Others allowed
Blend rules
Modena Bianco Spumante/Bianco di Modena Spumante
- ≥ 85% Montuni / Grechetto gentile / Trebbiano · Main grape
- ≤ 15% altri vitigni a bacca bianca, non aromatici · Others allowed
Blend rules
Modena Lambrusco Rosato Spumante/Lambrusco Rosato di Modena Spumante
- ≥ 85% Lambrusco Grasparossa / Lambrusco Salamino / Lambrusco di Sorbara / Lambrusco Marani / Lambrusco Maestri / Lambrusco Montericco / Lambrusco Oliva / Lambrusco a foglia frastagliata / Lambrusco Viadanese / Lambrusco Barghi / Lambrusco Benetti / Lambrusco del Pellegrino · Main grape
- ≤ 15% Ancellotta / Malbo gentile / Fortana · Allowed
Blend rules
Modena Lambrusco Spumante/Lambrusco di Modena Spumante
- ≥ 85% Lambrusco Grasparossa / Lambrusco Salamino / Lambrusco di Sorbara / Lambrusco Marani / Lambrusco Maestri / Lambrusco Montericco / Lambrusco Oliva / Lambrusco a foglia frastagliata / Lambrusco Viadanese / Lambrusco Barghi / Lambrusco Benetti / Lambrusco del Pellegrino · Main grape
- ≤ 15% Ancellotta / Malbo gentile / Fortana · Allowed
Blend rules
Modena Rosato Spumante/Rosato di Modena Spumante
- ≥ 85% Lambrusco Grasparossa / Lambrusco Salamino / Lambrusco di Sorbara / Lambrusco Marani / Lambrusco Maestri / Lambrusco Montericco / Lambrusco Oliva / Lambrusco a foglia frastagliata / Lambrusco Viadanese / Lambrusco Barghi / Lambrusco Benetti / Lambrusco del Pellegrino · Main grape
- – altri vitigni a bacca nera idonei per la regione Emilia-Romagna · Others allowed
Blend rules
Modena Rosso Spumante/Rosso di Modena Spumante
- ≥ 85% Lambrusco Grasparossa / Lambrusco Salamino / Lambrusco di Sorbara / Lambrusco Marani / Lambrusco Maestri / Lambrusco Montericco / Lambrusco Oliva / Lambrusco a foglia frastagliata / Lambrusco Viadanese / Lambrusco Barghi / Lambrusco Benetti / Lambrusco del Pellegrino · Main grape
- – altri vitigni a bacca nera idonei per la regione Emilia-Romagna · Others allowed
Other varieties allowed
Besides the main grapes, the rules allow these varieties in some wines. Grape names link where a profile exists.
41 varieties · 13 wines
Alicante, Ancellotta, Barbera, Bonarda, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Canina Nera, Carmenere, Centesimino, Ciliegiolo, Croatina, Dolcetto, Ervi, Fogarina, Fortana, Gamay, Groppello Gentile, Lambrusco Barghi, Lambrusco Benetti, Malbo Gentile, Marzemino, Merlese, Merlot, Montepulciano, Negretto, Perla dei Vivi, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Raboso Veronese, Rebo, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Sangiovese, Sgavetta, Syrah, Termarina, Terrano, Uva Longanesi, Uva Tosca, Uva del Fantini, Uva del Tunde', Veruccese
40 varieties · 7 wines
Alicante, Barbera, Bonarda, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Canina Nera, Carmenere, Centesimino, Ciliegiolo, Croatina, Dolcetto, Ervi, Fogarina, Gamay, Groppello Gentile, Lambrusco Barghi, Lambrusco Benetti, Lambrusco Viadanese, Malbo Gentile, Marzemino, Merlese, Merlot, Montepulciano, Negretto, Perla dei Vivi, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Raboso Veronese, Rebo, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Sangiovese, Sgavetta, Syrah, Termarina, Terrano, Uva Longanesi, Uva Tosca, Uva del Fantini, Uva del Tunde', Veruccese
36 varieties · Modena Pignoletto Spumante/Pignoletto di Modena Spumante (white), Modena Pignoletto Frizzante/Pignoletto di Modena Frizzante, Modena Pignoletto Spumante/Pignoletto di Modena Spumante (white)
Albana, Alionza, Bervedino, Biancame, Bombino Bianco, Durella, Famoso, Fiano, Friulano, Garganega, Malvasia Bianca di Candia, Malvasia Istriana, Malvasia di Candia Aromatica, Manzoni Bianco, Marsanne, Melara, Montu', Mostosa, Muller Thurgau, Muscat Blanc A Petits Grains, Ortrugo, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Ruggine, Santa Maria, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Spergola, Trebbianina, Trebbiano Modenese, Trebbiano Romagnolo, Trebbiano Toscano, Verdea, Verdicchio Bianco, Vernaccina, Welschriesling
33 varieties · Modena Bianco Spumante/Bianco di Modena Spumante (white), Modena Bianco Frizzante/Bianco di Modena Frizzante, Modena Bianco Spumante/Bianco di Modena Spumante (white)
Albana, Alionza, Bervedino, Biancame, Bombino Bianco, Durella, Famoso, Fiano, Friulano, Garganega, Malvasia Bianca di Candia, Malvasia Istriana, Malvasia di Candia Aromatica, Manzoni Bianco, Marsanne, Melara, Montu', Mostosa, Muller Thurgau, Muscat Blanc A Petits Grains, Ortrugo, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Ruggine, Santa Maria, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Spergola, Trebbianina, Verdea, Verdicchio Bianco, Vernaccina, Welschriesling
In the vineyard and cellar: rules for every wine
2,500
Vines per hectare, minimum
Emergency only
Irrigation
Allowed
Enrichment (chaptalisation)
02 · Climate fingerprint
The climate
The growing season averages 19.2 °C, hot on Gregory Jones's scale, with 1,966 growing degree days (Winkler IV).
The average year 1991–2020, vineyards at about 135 m
Monthly mean, °CRain, mmGrowing season
- Growing-season temperature
- 19.2 °C
- Hot · 19–21 °C (Jones)
- Growing degree days
- 1,966
- Region IV: 1,944–2,221 degree days
- Growing-season rain
- 574 mm
- Of 943 mm a year
- Harvest rain
- 182 mm
- September–October
Copernicus ERA5-Land monthly averages at 5 vineyard points (Vineyard point 1, 35 m; Vineyard point 2, 12 m; Vineyard point 3, 389 m; Vineyard point 4, 221 m; Vineyard point 5, 17 m), moved to each point's height from the model's terrain. Indices that need daily data are not captured yet. How the climate figures are made.
Lower confidence:Monthly reanalysis in moderately complex terrain; not yet checked against a weather station.
Closest climates in the database
Picked by the data, not by hand: the profiles nearest on season warmth (counted twice), degree days, rain, ripening-month nights and day–night range. Neighbours within 30 km are left out, as they share the same weather.
1. San Colombano al LambroVery similarCompared with Modena: same season warmth, similar rain.
2. AtinaVery similarCompared with Modena: same season warmth, similar rain.
3. VignanelloVery similarCompared with Modena: same season warmth, similar rain.
Growing-season temperature
Growing degree days
Growing-season rain
03 · Year by year
35 vintages
Each column is one growing season: heat above or below the 1991–2020 average, and rain at harvest. Pick a year for the details.
Warmer than averageCooler than averageHarvest rain (Sep–Oct)Average harvest rain, 182 mm
2025
- Growing-season temp.
- Growing degree days
- Harvest rain
- Growing-season rain
- September nights
- Hot days and frosts
Seasons are labelled by harvest year (April–October). Year-to-year changes from ERA5-Land; tested against station records in Alto Adige (r = 0.94 for season temperature at Bolzano). Rain varies more locally, so treat single-season rain with some caution. Vintage ratings, harvest dates and frost or hail events have places in the data model but are not loaded yet.
04 · Where the numbers come from
Sources
- A geospatial inventory of regulatory information for wine protected designations of origin in Europe · Candiago et al., Scientific Data 9, 394 (2022); Eurac Research · CC0
- Quality wines in Italy and France: a dataset of PDO specifications · figshare 25393261 · CC BY 4.0
- ERA5-Land monthly averaged data (reanalysis-era5-land-monthly-means) · Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), Climate Data Store · CC BY 4.0 (Copernicus licence)
- OpenStreetMap vineyard areas (landuse=vineyard), from Geofabrik country extracts · OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL 1.0
- Copernicus DEM GLO-90 (AWS open data tiles) · European Space Agency / Copernicus · Copernicus DEM licence
- Disciplinare di produzione: Modena · Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste (MASAF) · Official act
- Appellation nesting worked out from boundaries (pipeline/build_nesting.py) · Vinous, from the Eurac PDO boundaries · CC0 (source data)
- Climate profiles calculated by Vinous: method
Still to check (3)
- Generated from EU reference data: check against the current product specification.
- From the specification: The current specification no longer contains Pignoletto types, so the two Pignoletto products in the EU register have no rules here. Sweetness ranges from dosaggio zero to dolce (spumante) and secco to dolce (frizzante); bottle fermentation (including the traditional method) or autoclave are allowed, so no single sweetness or sparkling method is recorded. Winemaking and bottling must take place in the province of Modena (vinification_in_zone_required left null); wine yield max 70% (no hl/ha figure). Rosso and rosato may include up to the remaining 15% of other black grapes authorised in Emilia-Romagna.
- National tier (DOC/DOCG) not captured yet; rules extracted from the specification text.