La Vecia Cantena d’la Prè, an enoteca established 1976, is run by Barbara Lucchi and husband Riccardo Menghi. Located in the medieval village of Predappio Alta, this renowned enoteca hides an even greater piece of history in its cellars. Sangiovese wine making started here in the 14th century. A museum in the cellars reveals a little of this past.

About La Vecia Cantena d’la Pre

La Vecia Cantena d’la Pre

This famous enoteca called La Vecia Cantena d’la Prè was established in 1976 by husband and wife team Barbara Lucchi and Riccardo Menghi. The work of art here above the door way, probably executed by a local firm G Dal Monte, celebrates an even greater legend that this is where the region’s Sangiovese grape was eventually turned into the renowned wine it’s still recognized for today. In fact, the other name posted on the entrance reads: Ca’ de Sanzves, which is the dialect form for Sangiovese.

            The whole building was constructed on the side of the hill, clearly seen from the sloping ancient steps leading into the main dining area here. This, of course, is where guests are presented with typical Romagna cuisine tagliatelle, strozzapreti, tortelli, cappelletti and passatelli.

            Just as important though are the exquisite wines on offer and for this a tour of the cellar is required. Into a dungeon like cellar is the old Cantine Zoli winery. This can visited during opening hours.

The true historical significance of this gem located in the medieval village of Predappio Alta, only becomes evident once inside.

The cellar was built on three floors in order to exploit as much as possible the morphology of the land. The dining room above was where the grapes would have been pressed, whereas this floor and the next one was used for production and ageing.

            A room here is set aside as a museum centre piece and hosts tools and machinery used in the wine making process such as a wine press, hand tools, pumps and old containers. This small but diverse range of exhibits hail from various periods and therefore are an important piece of local history.

            Down into the third floor where it seems the temperature must drop another few degrees, huge barrels now sit empty and dormant. A peculiar detail here are the names of the wine labels on each of them since they would often recall names of people or families who made them.

            Although the occasional wine tasting kicks off here this space in the cellar is often host to art and photographic exhibitions. And there’s probably no better place to spend the wee hours over a glass of fine wine.

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