The souls of Lambrusco are as numerous as its colors and bubbles, all different, in a glass. The starting point of this multiplicity is the places in Emilia, where vine cultivation has given rise to different expressions. The only way to get to know Lambrusco is to come into contact with Lambruschi, wines with unique energy.
The symbol of conviviality
Lambrusco is the symbol of conviviality and was already known in antiquity, as recounted by Cato, Virgil, and Pliny the Elder. Lambrusco wine can be sweet or dry, sparkling or simply fizzy, born from a group of wild black grape varieties with common characteristics: not very alcoholic, aromatic, fresh, and sparkling. There are five different types: Lambrusco Sorbara, Reggiano, Salamino, Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro, and Lambrusco Mantovano. The pleasantness of its bubbles lends itself to original and poetic uses, as demonstrated by the sparkling toasts around the world by Luciano Pavarotti or the corks flying into the sky with every victory of Enzo Ferrari’s Rosso.
It’s the symbol of conviviality and has a historical presence dating back to antiquity, as documented by Cato, Virgil, and Pliny the Elder. Lambrusco wine can be sweet or dry, sparkling or simply fizzy, originating from a group of wild black grape varieties that share common characteristics: low alcohol content, aromatic, fresh, and sparkling. There are five different types: Lambrusco Sorbara, Reggiano, Salamino, Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro, and Lambrusco Mantovano. The delightful effervescence of its bubbles lends itself to original and poetic occasions, as illustrated by the sparkling toasts worldwide, such as those by Luciano Pavarotti or the corks soaring into the sky with each victory of Enzo Ferrari’s Rosso.
The story
The strength of Lambrusco’s history lies in having traversed time while preserving its rural essence, often hidden in the traditions of countryside families, thanks to the complicity of a community. Therefore, the history of this wine remains authentic and credible today, naturally evolving into a tale of discovery. Lambrusco is a symbol of a territory proudly asserting its deepest identity, engaging with collective memory.
Speaking about Lambrusco is quite challenging, requiring a lot of caution. It’s a vast subject, to the extent that the Lambrusco grape itself is a large family of grape varieties, not a singular specimen.
The most famous ones are Lambrusco Grasparossa, Lambrusco di Sorbara, Salamino, Marani, and Maestri. Each has found a different habitat, some in the hills, others in the plains. It is the historic wine of Emilia-Romagna, but it is also found in the neighboring Lombardy, mainly in the Mantua area.
How Lambrusco is Born: The Ancestral Method
Until a few decades ago, Lambrusco was a rustic wine. Grapes were crushed, left to ferment with the natural yeasts on the skins, and then bottled with some unfermented sugar. Fermentation would spontaneously restart in spring when the yeasts woke up from their winter slumber. Like magic, the wine became effervescent, the so-called ancestral method that is considered quite cool in modern days.
The history of Lambrusco wine
It seems that the Etruscans were the ones to start cultivation in the Po Valley; however, it is only with the Romans that more intense and reasoned cultivation developed. Cato speaks of wild vines and calls it ‘labrusca,’ but it is only in the 1600s that we begin to talk about Lambrusco wine to indicate the grape variety that is still cultivated today.
What are the types of Lambrusco.
Lambrusco di Sorbara
Sorbara has a light color, pink or cherry-red, is aromatic, and has a delicate structure but with sharp acidity. It is no coincidence that it is also used to produce excellent classic method sparkling wines. The production area of Sorbara is the plain.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
Grasparossa is a hillside wine, robust, tannic, with a ruby-red hue, and possesses characteristics opposite to Sorbara. It is dark, full-bodied, tannic, much less acidic, rather round in its own way, and fruity. The production area for Grasparossa is in the municipalities surrounding Castelvetro.
Lambrusco Salamino
It is the perfect synthesis of its two older siblings and is synonymous with pleasantness. It has precise and slender tannins, less intense than Grasparossa, a graceful acidity, and delicate aromas. If you have never tasted a Lambrusco, start with a more approachable Salamino.
Lambrusco Maestri
The Maestri is an intense, extreme wine, with everything in an exponential manner. It is very tannic, very acidic, very fruity, and very dark. Let’s say it’s the gruff one in the group, not one for subtlety, certainly not to be uncorked with oysters, but with cotechino, it’s fabulous!
Lambrusco Marani
Il Lambrusco di Reggio e Mantova: scuro, forte, acido, più vinoso che etereo, ma dotato di struttura rocciosa. Se non sapete cosa abbinare ai classici tortelli alla mantovana chiamate il vecchio Marani.
Lambrusco rifermentato VS Metodo Classico
The Lambrusco from Reggio and Mantova: dark, robust, acidic, more vinous than ethereal, but endowed with a rocky structure. If you’re unsure about what to pair with the classic Mantuan tortelli, call on the old Marani.
Lambrusco is a carefree wine, renowned for its delightful bouquet and intriguing freshness. Building on these qualities, some winemakers have ventured into the production of Classic Method Sparkling Wines. One notable mention is Christian Bellei, the most famous “sparkling wine artisan” of Lambrusco, a virtuoso of bubbles who has elevated Lambrusco with a series of refined interpretations.
Lambrusco knows no limits when it comes to food pairings.
Looking for a wine for BBQ ribs and arrosticini? The juicy fruit of Lambrusco Grasparossa di Cà Berti is perfect! Craving a wine for sushi and oysters? A Lambrusco di Sorbara, preferably a rosé, with a cascade of strawberries is just what you need.
Pride and quality, good wine doesn’t always come in a small barrel.
Pride and quality, good wine doesn’t always come in a small barrel. Even a Lambrusco giant like Cavicchioli, producing 18 million bottles, delivers excellent wines. We’re talking about the Vigna del Cristo selection, the most famous cru of Lambrusco di Sorbara.
