Cantina Bentivoglio is an enoteca, one of the most respected jazz clubs in the country and a proper restaurant, with a menu offering traditional Bolognese dishes. It is unbelievable how they manage to excel in everything they do. By visiting the Cantina, housed inside the sixteenth century Palazzo Bentivoglio (hence the name), one cannot miss the energetic vibe coming from the surrounding University district. It’s been focusing on great wine since 1987. Interestingly, the wine list is sorted by price, which gives guests with little disposable income a much easier way to select their bottle. Whatever your budget, Yiannis (the sommelier) is experienced and knowledgeable, and always there to advise. Labels are about 90% Italian, with the remaining 10% from France, Portugal, Slovenia, Germany and the New World.
The two cellars deserve a proper tour. In the first they store all red wines ready for service. It’s a gorgeous underground room that can be used for private tastings too. A second cellar, five metres underground, is humidity- and temperature-controlled, and it’s therefore dedicated to long-term ageing. I’ve spotted some interesting magnums down there!
4/b Via Mascarella, Bologna, 40126. cantinabentivoglio.it