Valtellina is the best food and wine destination in Italy: the special award
From the silent woods that guard churches and castles, through the cobbled streets of the villages to the steaming hot springs, Valtellina reveals itself as a secret universe made of rare wonders, Alpine panoramas and stories to tell: a land that welcomes with warmth and amazes with its landscapes, but also conquers with its flavors .
These very specialties, among which bresaola reigns supreme, are the stars of the Travel Food Award presented by GIST (Italian Tourist Press Group): Valtellina has been named Italy's best food and wine destination for 2025.
Why the Travel Food Award honored ValtellinaThe Travel Food Award, which rewards territories that promote quality food and wine tourism , this year went to Valtellina on the occasion of the TTG Travel Experience in Rimini 2025 .
Paola Dolzanelli , coordinator of the Consorzio Tutela Bresaola della Valtellina, creator of the “Valtellina Nascosta” project, accepted the award for best food and wine destination in Italy: an app dedicated to sustainable tourism that tells the story of 18 hidden destinations in Valtellina, also through the local symbolic product, the famous bresaola .
This year, great emphasis was placed on the sustainability and ethical standards of the competing projects, focusing on food as a powerful tool for dialogue. The inclusive power of food breaks down geographical and mental boundaries and teaches the history, culture, and spirit of a people. Furthermore, special attention was given to those who produce food without harming the planet and avoiding waste.
"I thank GIST for giving me the opportunity to recognize a region that is dear to my heart: Valtellina," said Barbara Mazzali , Lombardy's regional councilor for Tourism, Territorial Marketing, and Fashion, presenting the award. "A place where nature and cuisine blend in perfect harmony. Here, every flavor tells the story of a family, the story of hands kneading pizzoccheri , of the patient time that ages bresaola, of the intense aroma of polenta taragna mingling with the mountain air."
A praise that also extended to the wines produced in Valtellina : “The Sforzato and the Valtellina Superiore, authentic poems in a bottle that come from vines climbing dry stone walls, a symbol of a tenacity that is truly Lombard,” concluded Mazzali.
Hidden Valtellina: Secret Gems Revealed by LocalsThe award-winning web app "Valtellina Nascosta" reveals 18 "secret" destinations in Valtellina. Created by the Consorzio Tutela Bresaola della Valtellina, the platform, through evocative storytelling , highlights little-known places far from overtourism , also offering suggestions for ideal destinations for a real experience while tasting the finest bresaola.
Below are some hidden gems and places recommended by locals who love and live in Valtellina.
- In Savogno, the 2,886 steps up the mountain towards Switzerland;
- In Valchiavenna, the Crotti and the mysterious breath of the Sorel;
- Novate Mezzola, the temple of San Fedelino, a jewel on the shores of the lake;
- Pian di Spagna Nature Reserve and Lake Mezzola, cradles of biodiversity;
- In Valgerola, the House of Homo Selvadego;
- Caiolo, the hidden face of Valtellina;
- Sondrio, a city to be explored at a slow pace;
- Valmalenco, a land of nature and legends to be protected;
- In Valmalenco, the Bagnada Mine Museum;
- Ponte in Valtellina, between culture and the universe in a single embrace;
- In Teglio, Christ Pantocrator inside the Church of San Pietro;
- In Tirano, along the ancient smuggling paths;
- In Grosio, the women and their typical dress;
- At the Stelvio Pass, the trenches of the White War;
- Cancano dams and the wandering church of S. Erasmo;
- In Livigno, the MUS – a museum that recalls ancient life in this valley;
- In Bormio, the folklore of the “Magnificent Land” and the miraculous Holy Crucifix;
- In Montagna in Valtellina, Mancapane Castle is hidden by the woods.
Not just food and wine excellence, but also skiing : Valtellina is preparing to host the next Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in the wonderful settings of Livigno and Bormio , both venues of the men's alpine skiing competitions. Bormio, in particular, will also see the debut of the new Olympic discipline of ski mountaineering .
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