Chestnut of Castel Del Rio PGI

Chestnut of Castel del Rio PGI refers to the fresh fruit obtained from chestnut groves of the species Castanea sativa M., in the three biotypes: Marrone Domestico, Marrone Nostrano, Marrone di San Michele.

The production area of Chestnut di Castel del Rio PGI includes all or part of the territory of the following municipalities in the Province of Bologna: Castel del Rio, Fontanelice, Casal Fiumanese and Borgo Tossignano, located in the Province of Bologna, in the Emilia-Romagna Region.

Chestnut groves must be located at an altitude of 200-800 metres above sea level. Newly planted chestnut groves must consist exclusively of the Domestic Chestnut biotype. The planting distances, forms of cultivation and pruning systems must be those traditional to the area. In the production phase, the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides is forbidden. The start of the harvest depends on the state of ripeness, which varies according to the weather. After harvesting, sorting, grading and 'curatura' are carried out in cold and/or hot water according to local tradition.

Chestnut growing in the Bologna area has an ancient history and has always been a very important activity for this area. Around the middle of the 16th century, the Santerno Valley donated to the Governor of Romagna 'twelve pairs of capons, one hundred pounds of Marzola cheese, one hundred rose apples known as paradise apples, forty thrushes, two hares and six chestnut husks'. Among the most delicious fruits of this land, in fact, one could not miss chestnuts, which have been widely cultivated in the Apennines since the year one thousand, when chestnut groves took the place of oak woods, thus becoming a fundamental resource not only from a food point of view but also from an economic one. Production has been carefully regulated ever since. In 1694, an edict attested that 'a large part of the income from the territory of Castel del Rio consists of the fruit of chestnut trees', thus imposing the planting of new specimens for every tree felled. Only in the 18th century, with the spread of maize and potatoes, did the chestnut grove decrease. Later, the construction of the Strada Montanara along the valley - between 1829 and 1882 - and the advent of the railways favoured a greater spread of chestnuts in Italy and abroad.

Characteristics:

Marrone di Castel del Rio PGI is characterised by its ellipsoidal shape and medium-large size. The skin is easily detached from the fruit and has a reddish brown colour with marked darker streaks. The flesh is white, sweet and crunchy with an outer surface almost completely free of grooves.

Pairings:

It can be eaten fresh or processed. The naturalness and versatility of the product make marrons the main ingredient in numerous culinary preparations, including pheasant, tagliolini, fritters, castagnaccio and meringues. Not to be forgotten are the traditional roasted chestnuts and boiled marroni, to be enjoyed with moscati or passiti wines as well as novel wine.

Chestnut of Castel del Rio PGI should be stored in a cool, dry place.