Dozza, Italy: A Hidden Gem for Wine Lovers and History Buffs 

Tucked into the rolling hills of Emilia-Romagna, Dozza, Italy is a medieval village that blends ancient charm with bold, artistic flair…and a whole lot of wine. Just 30 kilometers (19 miles) southeast of Bologna, Dozza is one of Italy’s best-kept secrets for those seeking authentic experiences without the tourist crowds.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to spend a day in Dozza – from local wineries to a haunted castle to a 200-label wine cellar beneath a fortress. Whether you’re a history lover, wine nerd, or just craving something off the beaten path, this hidden gem is calling.

Quick Takeaways for Visiting Dozza, Italy

• Just 30 minutes from Bologna, Dozza is the perfect wine-country day trip
• Taste lesser-known local wines like Albana, Barbera frizzante, and Malbo
• Explore the 13th-century Rocca Sforzesca, complete with ghost stories
• Enjoy affordable wine tastings and direct-from-the-tank refills
• Wander an open-air art museum with murals on nearly every wall

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Map of where we went in Dozza, Italy

A Wine Lover’s Paradise: Our Day in Dozza

Cenni & Assirelli

Need to Know:

• 📍 Location: Just outside Dozza, ~10-minute drive
• 🕒 Hours:
  • Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9 AM – 12PM & 3 PM – 6 PM
  • Saturday 9 AM – 12PM
  • Walk-ins welcome, but we’d recommend having a reservation
• 💸 Cost: Around €10 for a tasting flight, or €1.50/L straight from the tank
• 🔑 Specialty Wines: Pignoletto, Albana, Barbera Frizzante
• 🌿 Atmosphere: Casual, local, rustic, and very wallet-friendly

Our day started just outside Dozza at Cenni & Assirelli, a winery founded in 1958 by two families who originally used the land for livestock and agriculture. Over time, they transitioned into viticulture, embracing the clay- and limestone-rich soils that define this part of Emilia-Romagna’s Colli d’Imola.

The shift paid off. Today, the winery is known for its classic Romagna whites like Pignoletto, Trebbiano, and Albana, as well as bolder reds like Sangiovese Superiore and the unexpected star of our tasting – Barbera Frizzante.

🍷 Barbera Frizzante might sound strange (yes, it’s a sparkling red), but it’s hyper-local, lightly fizzy, and refreshingly savory. We’d never heard of it before, and now we’re obsessed.

The tasting room is casual and welcoming – no pretension here. But the wines? Way more polished than you’d expect for a spot this low-key.

Fill It Yourself: €1.50 Wine Jugs Straight from the Tank

Here’s where things got delightfully local: you can fill your own jug of wine directly from a tank.

For just €1.50 per liter, you can walk out with 3 liters of house wine.

It’s not just a novelty – it’s tradition. In this part of Italy, locals regularly fill reusable demijohns with table wine to drink at home. The wine is fresh, easy-drinking, and super affordable. 

If you want to feel like a true Romagnolo? This is how you do it.

Exploring Dozza’s Historic Center & Castle

After the winery, we wandered into Dozza’s storybook streets. Every building seemed hand-painted with massive, colorful murals – Dozza hosts a Biennale del Muro Dipinto, where artists transform the village walls into outdoor canvases.

We grabbed lunch at a cozy ristorante (hello, tortellini in butter and sage) before heading to the main attraction…

Rocca Sforzesca: A Medieval Fortress with Ghosts & Dungeons

Need to Know:

• 📍 Location: Center of Dozza, you literally can’t miss it
• 🕒 Hours: Typically open daily from 10 AM–7 PM (check seasonal times on their website)
• 💸 Cost: ~ €8 entry, guided tours available, but we didn’t do one
• 🔍 Highlights: Secret tunnels, torture chamber, mural art, castle museum
• 👻 Local Lore: Haunted by the ghost of Caterina, a noblewoman from the 1500s

In the heart of Dozza’s historic center stands the impressive Rocca Sforzesca, a medieval castle that has worn many hats over the centuries: military stronghold, noble residence, haunted legend, and now, a museum and regional wine cellar. 

The 13th-century Rocca Sforzesca dominates the village skyline. Part castle, part noble residence, and part museum, it offers:

• Secret passageways
• A medieval torture chamber
• A ghost legend of Caterina, a noblewoman from the 1500s
• A “dragon’s cell” that’s just weird enough to be unforgettable

History of Rocca Sforzesca

Built in the mid-1200s to guard the frontier between Bologna and Romagna, the fortress changed hands multiple times, reflecting the political tug-of-war that defined the region for centuries.

Throughout the 14th and 15th centuries, powerful families like the Pepoli, Visconti, and Manfredi took turns rebuilding and reinforcing the structure. But it was during the late 1400s, under the fierce rule of Caterina Sforza, a formidable noblewoman and daughter of the Duke of Milan, that the castle saw its most dramatic upgrades. 

Caterina added round towers, a defensive moat, and thicker walls designed to withstand artillery, turning Dozza’s modest fortress into a serious piece of military architecture.

By the 1500s, the threat of war had faded and the Rocca began its transformation into a noble residence. Under the Campeggi and later Malvezzi families, the space was expanded and refined. 

Think frescoed halls, Renaissance loggias, stately fireplaces, and antique kitchens filled with copper pots and 16th-century utensils. The castle remained in private hands until the 1960s, when it was acquired by the Comune di Dozza and turned into a public museum.

Walking through the Rocca today feels like stepping into multiple time periods at once. 

You’ll find ancient stone staircases, noble apartments, a military-style watchtower with sweeping views over the hills, and a few delightfully creepy surprises like the torture chamber and the infamous razor well, which legend says was used by Caterina to dispose of enemies (and perhaps a few lovers). 

Whether that’s true or not is anyone’s guess, but the lore adds to the eerie charm of the place.

And if that weren’t enough, tucked into the castle’s vaulted basement is the Enoteca Regionale Emilia-Romagna, a wine cellar showcasing over 800 wines from across the region. More on that in a second.

The Rocca Sforzesca is an absolute must-do when visiting Dozza. It offers a rare mix of history, art, architecture, and just enough ghost story to keep things interesting.

Enoteca Regionale Emilia-Romagna: 800+ Wines in a Castle Basement

Need to Know:

• 📍 Location: Basement of Rocca Sforzesca, in Dozza’s historic center
• 🕒 Hours:
  • Tuesday – Friday: 10 AM – 1 PM & 2:30 PM – 7 PM
  • Saturday 10 AM – 1 PM & 2 PM – 7 PM
  • Sunday and Holidays: 10 AM – 7 PM
  • Monday: Closed
• 💸 Cost: Free entry, tastings priced per pour (~€2–5 each depending on size)
• 🍾 Inventory: Over 800 wines from 200+ regional producers
• 🍷 Format: Self-service wine dispenser machines + staff recs

You read that right – Dozza’s regional enoteca sits in the basement of the Rocca and holds 800+ wines from over 200 producers.

With self-service wine dispensers, you can try a dozen different pours without needing a reservation.

We fell in love with:

• 🍷 Malbo – jammy on the nose, surprisingly dry, with serious tannins
• More Trebbiano, Albana, and Sangiovese from local producers

If you’re a wine lover (like us), you’ll want to give yourself a minimum of an hour to browse the shelves. You can take your wine glass with you as you shop and we loved seeing all the different options. 

Emilia-Romagna Wines to Try in Dozza

Not sure what to look for? Add these to your tasting wishlist:

• Albana – aromatic white with rich texture
• Barbera Frizzante – a sparkling red that’s actually good
• Trebbiano Romagnolo – crisp, fresh, and very food-friendly
• Sangiovese Superiore – smooth, structured, and regional pride in a glass

🧾 Not Sure What DOCG, DOC, or IGT Means?

Italian wine labels can be confusing – but they don’t have to be. If you’re wondering what those acronyms mean on your wine bottle, we’ve got you covered.

👉 Check out our guide to understanding Italian wine labels for a breakdown of how Italy classifies its wines (and why it matters for your next bottle).

🎥 Watch: Our Day in Dozza, Italy (Wine, Castles & Murals)

Want to see what Dozza actually looks like? We filmed our entire day, from sipping sparkling Barbera to wandering through haunted castle corridors.

👉 Watch our full YouTube video here: Dozza, Italy: Wine Tasting & Castle Tour

You’ll get:

• A visual tour of both wineries we visited
• Behind-the-scenes footage inside the Rocca Sforzesca
• A peek at the Enoteca wine cellar and self-pour machines
• And all the mural-covered streets that make Dozza so unique
• If you’re more of a visual traveler, this video is for you. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe if you want more hidden gems like this one!

Final Stop: Cantina da Vittorio for a Tasting & Tour

Need to Know:

• 📍 Location: In the hills outside Dozza, ~15-minute drive
• 🕒 Hours:
  • Tuesday – Friday: 9 AM – 12PM & 3 PM – 6 PM
  • Saturday 9 AM – 12PM
  • Monday, Sunday and Holidays: Closed
  • Reservation recommended (especially for English-speaking tours)
• 💸 Cost: €15-30 per person, depending on tasting selected
• 🔑 Specialty Wines: Albana Secco, Sangiovese Riserva, Passito dessert wine
• 🌿 Atmosphere: Boutique, modern, educational, with a personal touch

Later in the day, we visited Cantina da Vittorio, a modern winery nestled among the rolling hills near Dozza. While younger than some of its neighbors (founded in the early 2000s), it’s quickly built a reputation for sustainable farming practices, attention to detail, and a passion for reviving native grape varietals.

Unlike our first stop, this was a more structured experience. We were given a full tour of the vineyards, walked us through their small but mighty production facility, and ended the tour with a full tasting paired with scrumptious local meats and cheese.

The vineyards are spread across the Colli d’Imola, a subzone of Emilia-Romagna known for its balanced microclimate: warm days, cool nights, and just the right amount of sea breeze. This allows for slower ripening, which leads to wines with more complexity and aromatic depth.

Our tour covered the full process:

• 🍇 Vineyard sourcing from hills around Imola & Dozza
• 🛢️ Stainless steel fermentation
• 🧀 Pairing philosophy with local cheese & bread
• 🍷 A full tasting of five wines across white, red & dessert categories

The standouts here were:

• Albana Secco, with bright acidity and a honeyed aroma
• Sangiovese Riserva, aged in large oak barrels, silky and structured
• A late-harvest Passito-style dessert wine that paired perfectly with sharp cheese

Why You Should Visit Dozza, Italy

Dozza isn’t just another cute Italian hill town. It’s a one-of-a-kind blend of:

• Street art
• Bold, under-the-radar wines
• Medieval legends
• Local hospitality

If you’re visiting Bologna or road-tripping through Emilia-Romagna, add Dozza to your itinerary. It’s wine-forward, crowd-free, and full of surprises.

🙋‍♀️ FAQ: Visiting Dozza, Italy

📍 How do I get to Dozza from Bologna?
By car, it’s about a 35-minute drive southeast. We chose to rent a car in Bologna and drive, but you could also train to Imola and rent a car from there too. There’s also a train to Castel San Pietro Terme, then a short taxi ride, but keep in mind, Dozza only has like 2 taxis so getting back to the train might present a problem.

🍷 Do I need reservations for tastings?
Some wineries welcome walk-ins, but booking ahead is smart, especially for English-speaking tours.

🏰 Is the castle worth visiting?
Absolutely. The Rocca Sforzesca includes history, views, creepy dungeons, and even a wine cellar.

💸 Is Dozza budget-friendly?
Yes! Many tastings are under €20 and it’s a great value for what you get. 

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One Last Sip…

Dozza might not be the first place people think of when planning a trip to Italy, but that’s exactly why we loved it. Between the medieval castle, the colorful murals, and all the wine (seriously, so much wine), this little hilltop village served up big flavor without the crowds.

If you’re craving a day that feels equal parts historic, artistic, and tipsy in the best possible way, Dozza, Italy is your sign to go. Bonus points if you leave with wine jugs in your trunk and ghost stories in your head.

And if you’re into uncovering lesser-known wine regions, offbeat adventures, and stories best shared over a glass, go ahead and dive into more of our wine-fueled guides.

• One Day in Bologna
• Best Day Trips from Bologna
• Italian Wine Label Guide (What DOCG Really Means)
• Ultimate Road Trip to Tuscany: A Wine Lover’s Paradise

👉 Or browse all our Italy Guides here