If you are experienced runners or simple sportsmen, Saturday 9 November you can't miss Valtellina Wine Trail, the race open to all through the magnificent landscapes of the valley in Lombardy. It is not only a sporting event like many, but an opportunity to rediscover the suggestive Valtellinese territory and especially its wines. As you can easily guess from the name of the race, the route winds through terraces, villages, cellars and castles linked in some way to the local wine production, which boasts excellent DOCG wines obtained from nebbiolo grapes.
Actually, the race routes are threeWith different distances. The marathon of 42 km starting at 12 from Tirano, the half marathon of 21 km, with start always at 12, from Chiuro and the Sassella Trail of 12 km with start at 10 from Castione. The arrival, for all, is in Sondrio, in Piazza Garibaldi, location of what has now become the inevitable holiday of the end of the Vallligian season.
Unlike last year, when the longest races took place at night, this time they run in the central hours of the day, thus enjoying the colors of autumn, which make particularly suggestive vineyards and villages of Valtellina.
To frame the Valtellina Wine Trail is in fact an extraordinary landscape of rows, forged for centuries of heroic viticulture, which have created the largest terraced area in Italy, candidate to be enrolled as World Heritage among the Unesco goods. It is thanks to the kilometers of dry walls, built stone on stone, if the cultivation of the vine is made possible in the most steep areas, which are also the most sunny of the Rhaetian Alps. This is where you grow Nebbiolo from which are obtained the fine local wines, such as Valtellina Superiore DOCG, Sforzato DOCG and Sassella IGT.
Every village crossed by the race deserves a stop, but if this is not possible because of the times of race, I suggest you take at least the time to visit the places of departure, and I guarantee that you will not regret it. Here is what to see (and taste!) in Tirano, Chiuro and Castione before Valtellina Wine Trail.
Index of Article
What to see in Tirano
You probably already know this Alpine town that is strategically located in the narrowest part of Valtellina, near the confluence of the Adda and Poschiavino rivers, and for this reason it has always been the center of trade between Italy and the Germanic world. Today it is famous especially for being the starting point of the railway connecting Valtellina to Saint Moritz, the famous Bernina red train, declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 2008.
Arriving from the lower valley, you will find the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Tirano which represents the greatest place of worship of Valtellina. Built after the miraculous appearance of the Virgin at Blessed Mario Omodei on 29 September 1504, it is worth a visit to admire its baroque elegance, richness of decorations and monumental organ. Then I suggest you take a walk through the streets of the ancient village, flanked by elegant 16th and 17th century mansions that testify to the period of greatest importance of Tirano.
You cannot leave Tirano without tasting the local specialties such as black polenta, lazzoccheri and the typical chisciol, which all have as a basic ingredient the buckwheat flour, cultivated in the area since ancient times. On the table you can not miss a cutter of meats and cheeses and, of course, a bottle of Sforzato DOCG.
What to see in Chiuro
Located in the media Valtellina, about ten kilometers from Sondrio, the village of Chiuro dates back to the 10th century and for its position of passage has always played an important role in local history. Traces of this rich past you can easily find them in the streets of the old town, among beautiful churches and palaces.
Start your visit from the main square, entitled to the famous feudatario Stefano Quadrio, a prominent figure of the medieval history of Chiuro, to which you owe a period of great flourish. Here you can still see its fortified palace, which despite being modified several times retains interesting original parts.
Sciat, lazzoccheri, game and polenta are just some of the typical dishes of Valtellinese cuisine that you can taste in the many restaurants of Chiuro. Obviously watered by the generous local wines that contribute to the fame of the country well beyond the Vallligian borders.
What to see in Castione
Near the gates of Sondrio, Castione is the starting point of Sassella Trail, the shortest of the three routes of Valtellina Wine Trail, which crosses the sunny vineyards of the rhetic slope.
Once the village was dominated by the medieval castle of Leo, on whose remains stands the 16th century church of San Rocco. In the centre of the village you can also visit the church of San Martino, built in the 18th century and which boasts richly decorated interiors by local and Ticino artists.
Typical agricultural village of Lombard origin, since time immemorial Castione binds its history to the production of the "...wine better and stronger than the whole valley", which was once also sold to the imperial courts. Tuttora is home to some wineries and hosts the annual Ciapèl d’Or wine competition.
