Trattoria La Vecchia Fonte

Trattoria La Vecchia Fonte is a rustic trattoria in Matelica, the inland Marche town set in a high valley between the Apennine ranges that gives its name to Verdicchio di Matelica, a distinct and often more structured cousin of the better-known Castelli di Jesi wine. The kitchen serves the hearty cooking of the Marche interior, with vincisgrassi, the rich baked pasta, tagliatelle dressed with local truffle, and seasonal dishes built on the produce of the surrounding hills and woods. The trattoria offers a fitting place to taste Verdicchio di Matelica alongside the food it was made to accompany, with a range available by the glass and bottle. The atmosphere is warm and unpretentious, drawing locals and the occasional traveller exploring this quieter inland route, and prices stay firmly in the friendly mid-range. The wine list naturally centres on the local Verdicchio but also includes Marche reds. Matelica lies inland from the coast, reached by car or by the inland railway that threads the valley, and makes a rewarding stop on a wine-focused tour of the interior. Independent travellers should reserve on weekends.