The northern-most region in central Italy, lying between the Swiss Alps and the river Po’, Lombardy derives its name from the Longobard tribes that swept down from the north during the declining days of the Roman Empire.
Bordered by Switzerland to the north, the Italian region of Emilia Romagna to the south, Piedmont to the west and Veneto to the east, three distinct natural zones can be fairly easily distinguished in the Lombardy region: mountains, hills and plains.
Located in the southwestern corner of Lombardy lies the province of Pavia and the wine-producing area called Oltrepò Pavese, meaning “Pavia across the Po”. This is where the foothills of the Appenine Mountains begin. The vines in this area benefit from an excellent microclimate owing to its close proximity to the Po, well-drained soils rich in clay and calcareous marl, with a terroir often compared to that of Barolo.