Let’s venture into a new itinerary of beauty and taste where we will discover food, wine, culture, history and environment…
Welcome to Oltrepò Pavese! 
The Oltrepò Pavese is located south of the river Po, in the area of the province of Pavia which extends as far as Liguria, touching the province of Piacenza to the east and the province of Alessandria. A territory that is worth discovering for its eno-gastronomic, cultural, religious, historical and even environmental attractions linked to an important biodiversity factor.
Castles, parish churches, churches become unmissable stops for walks and excursions and for religious itineraries such as the Via degli Abati, the Via Francigena, the Via di San Colombano which develop in part on the territory.
It is a land of rolling hills covered with vineyards that produce excellent wines: Pinot Nero, Croatina, Barbera; the Riesling, the Buttafuoco, the Bonarda, the traditional Oltrepò wine and the sweet red Sangue di Giuda, His Majesty the Riesling, the still full-bodied but balanced red Casteggio, with violet reflections and aromas played on red fruits, while the Buttafuoco with a production of 70,000 bottles a year and represents a real rarity on a national level . The Consorzio Tutela Vini dell’ Oltrepò Pavese protects and promotes the value of its important historical wine heritage, in a land that belongs to wine.
Some vineyards were planted in the lands of Oltrepo Pavese in the late nineteenth century, such as the cellars Sartieri which since then have been handed down in the Saviotti families. Having a Sartieri 1931 bottle on the table means, in addition to having an excellent ally for your dishes, rewarding a unique area rich in traditions such as that of Oltrepò, an area dedicated to the cultivation of vineyards for millennia.
“Première” Classic Method Sparkling Wine and “Allure” Rosé Classic Method Sparkling Wine; followed by Bonarda “Dama Célinde”, Riesling Renano “Zefir”, Cabernet Sauvignon “Madagascar”, Pinot Grigio “Caban”, Croatina “Suit”, Merlot “Figurino” and Barbera “Tuxedo”, in two versions, “Gold” (young ) and “Red” (aged).
Villages and castles
Montesegale, Torre Degli AlberI, Zavattarello and Fortunago, perhaps the most characteristic San Ponzo, of medieval origin: very narrow streets and stone houses, are leaning against each other. It almost seems to be in a mountain town. Romagnese, whose tower houses the civic museum of peasant art. Not far away, in Alpino di Pietra Corva, a beautiful botanical garden with about 3,000 plant species.
Amazing castle such as Oramala, di Cigognola, di Nazzano e di Montalto
Here is a village that contains architectural jewels such as the Malaspina Castle, the Romanesque church of the Capuchins, the parish of San Germano and deserves a special mention for the artistic combination of art and street art, letting the Pavese artists use the shutters of the shops of the old town to paint their graffiti.
The products of the territory
The famous peppers of Voghera, with a sweet and pleasant taste, the mustard of Voghera, a historical product, known as early as the 14th century, to accompany cheeses, mixed boiled meat, cotechino .. the Lungavilla cap pumpkin with the characteristic shape of a turban and green color -blue, an ideal ingredient for risotto. stuffed with ravioli and baked.
The “king of rice” Carnaroli: tenacious grain, pearly reflections, perfect cooking resistance and for centuries the protagonist of Lombard cuisine. The typical bread is miccone, in the shape of a plait with a thin crust and thick crumb. Pair it with salami, salad and bonarda: top snack! 
In Varzi an excellence of Oltrepo Pavese is born: the salami of Varzi DOP, rigorously cut with a knife, crosswise. When matured correctly, especially in the summer months, it will be easy to notice the classic “drop” due to the melting of the fat.
Dolci
Almond cake
A dessert is simple, dry and crumbly, tasty and nutritious. One of the favorite foods already in the twelfth century, at the court of the Malaspina.
Donuts from Staghiglione
Classic hole donuts. The recipe has been jealously guarded for three generations by the local bakery. The product dates back to the early 1800s and is characterized by a double cooking: the first in boiling water and the second in a wood oven after drying. .
Michelin Stars
I Castagni, Vigevano
In the elegant farmhouse in the Vigevano countryside, we find the Chef Enrico Gerli, champion of a cuisine firmly linked to the traditional aspects of the territory to result in a reinterpretation that rewards the research and the gastronomic inspiration of the Chef who was able to create a “home for friends “, convivial and full of cordiality where you can taste superior dishes and wines.
.Villa Naj, Stradella
Chef Alessandro Proietti Refrigeri landed in Oltrepò after significant and important experiences including Noma in Copenhagen working for two years alongside Renè Redzepi and La Pergola by Heinz Beck. With his experience and professionalism, in addition to his love for cooking, he is now at the helm of Villa Naj, where he involves many small local producers and gives an innovative touch to the excellent local raw materials.
His book “Terra, Mare e Vegetali” has just been released, from which we have extrapolated a really top recipe.
MEZZE MANICHE, BITTER HERBS EMULSION, ASH GOAT GOAT AND BLACK TRUFFLE 
Ingrediants for 4 people
320 g of half sleeves, 200 g of dandelion, 150 g of wild chicory. 100 g of nettle. 150 g of catalonia, 100 g of turnip greens, 100 g of black truffle, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper, 200 g of goat’s goat with ash from the Il Boscasso farm, 300 g of cream
Method
Prepare the herbal emulsion, carefully cleaning the dandelion, field chicory, nettle (making sure to use gloves to avoid burns), catalonia and turnip greens; cook them in salted water for 4 minutes and then blend them adding a little cooking water, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper with the help of a food processor. Set aside a few whole dandelion leaves. Cut the goat cheese into cubes with all the crust; separately heat the cream and pour everything into the food processor, blending for 3 minutes; kept separately. Cook the pasta in salted water and, when it is al dente, pour it into a pan with a little oil and its cooking water: once cooked desired, turn off and add the bitter herb cream. Cream and serve by putting the goat cream with ash, the pasta, the sautéed dandelion leaves and only at the end a grating of fine black truffle
The perfect wine to pair
To accompany the hints of dandelion, field chicory, nettle and ash of his dish, Alessandro recommends Pernice Conte Vistarino, a historically “noble” cru, having just the Count Carlo Vistarino brought the Pinot Noir cuttings from Burgundy around 1850. The Vistarino dynasty is today represented by Ottavia Giorgi di Vistarino, who lives the legacy of the company respecting its tradition and at the same time putting character, future and personality into it. 
Hungry?
Let’s take a well-deserved stop in a typical tavern to enjoy free-range cuisine and local dishes, such as a risotto with salami paste, eye beans and Bonarda or cod with golden onion from Voghera and raisins. and finally a delicious pumpkin pie from Lungavilla. Here’s where to throw the eye … 
Prato Gaio Montecalvo Versiggia
Guallina, Mortara
La verde sosta, Crocetta
Osteria della Madonna da Peo , Pavia
Il giarone , Rocca Susella
Osteria del campanile, Torrazzacoste
L’ustarua di giugaton , Battella
Pappa e cena , Val di Nizza
Buscone , Varzi
Paradiso, Caseo-Canevino
Sisters … in the kitchen!
In Rivanazzano we find Oasi Della Pace, a restaurant run by the Sisters of the Holy Rosary, Apostles of Labor. It is well known for the simplicity of its dishes, served in an environment where silence, peace and fresh air reign. The menu is fixed price and the success is stellar. Any particular ingredients? “Not at all, the Sisters say, the foods we use are simple and genuine. The real secret is love and patience. It doesn’t matter what you cook, but how you do it!”
The recipe by Alessandro Proietti Chef of Villa Naj, Michelin Star.
INFO
OltrePò Pavese
Consorzio Tutela Vini Oltrepò Pavese
