Winemaking has been an integral part of Italian culture and history for over 4,000 years. Italy is home to 355 grape varieties and is the world’s largest wine producer. Lambrusco, a wide variety of wine, is one of these varieties. This Italian wine has enjoyed popularity over the years but has also been controversial.

What is Lambrusco Wine?

Lambrusco refers to an Italian red wine grape variety and a wine made primarily from that grape. The wine and grapes are sourced from four areas in Emilia-Romagna, one in Lombardy, and primarily around Modena, Parma and Reggio-Emilia in Italy. This grape has a long history of winemaking, with archaeological evidence proving that it was grown by the Etruscan civilization. Lambrusco was highly valued in Roman times for its high productivity and yield.

The most well-known variety of Lambrusco wines is the frizzante red wine, lightly sparkling and intended to be drunk young. Sweet Lambrusco was America’s most popular imported wine between 1970 and 1980. The wine was also made in white and rose styles, created by limiting skin contact with the must.

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Six varieties of Lambrusco are the most popular, namely Lambrusco Grasparossa (all varieties), Lambrusco Maestri (all varieties), Lambrusco Marani (all varieties), Lambrusco Montericco (all varieties), and Lambrusco Sorbara. These Lambrusco grapes come from Emilia. Lambrusco wines can be made with more than one Lambrusco grape variety. They are often mixed with specific blending grapes like Ancellotta, Marzemino and Malabo Gentile (for variety), Cabernet Sauvignon (for the body, construction, and others). To prevent mildew (fungus) from growing, the grape vines are often planted high above the ground.

Although the actual grape isn’t sweet, wide Lambrusco varieties can be improved with partial fermentation or by adding concentrated grape must. The Lambrusco vines produce a wonderful dry wine with strawberry aromas and a slightly bitter finish if they are not matured sweetly.

There are over 60 varieties of Lambrusco grapes today. They can be found across Italy, Piedmont, Sicily and the Veneto. Lambrusco Salamino is the most widely planted variety.

How is Lambrusco wine made?

The following techniques are used to make Lambrusco wines:

1. Martinotti or Charmat Method: This method is used to produce sparkling Lambrusco and Lambrusco “spumante”. This involves pouring the wine into large, pressurized autoclaves. After the infusion of yeast and sugar, the subsequent fermentation begins. The pressure in the autoclaves causes carbon dioxide to form, which is trapped in the wine. The wine is then bottled, and a cork is used later to preserve the bubbles.

2. Champanois or Classic Method: This method is only used to produce Lambrusco spumante. This method requires the second fermentation in the container straight after sugars and yeasts have been added. This new fermentation results in the formation of more carbon dioxide. The gas trapped causes a further pressure increase.

3. Blowing carbon dioxide: This method produces artificial sparkling wines. This involves blowing carbon dioxide into wine-filled compressed autoclaves to infuse it. This method is faster, but it doesn’t produce the best results.

Why was the reputation of Lambrusco wines tarnished?

Lambrusco wine wasn’t always well-known. It was the subject of controversy and received much negative feedback. At the height of the 1970s wine boom, Lambrusco was not considered a true Lambrusco. It was simply sweet sparkling juice. Because of the large amounts traded, the quality was poor. The ultimate goal was to make a profit.

Many wines currently doing well gained bad reputations during the wine boom in the 1970s and 1980s. While Chablis was misnamed, Italy suffered the same fate with wines such as Chianti, Lambrusco, and Soave.

Lambrusco, Italy’s most famous red wine, began to experience a quality crisis. A few brands and a handful of producers brought down the quality of Lambrusco, creating cheaper and more dry versions. This changed its perception.

These Are The Top Lambrusco Wines You Should Try

LAMBRUSCO DI SORBARA

This grape variety produces light, delicate Lambrusco roses and sparkling red wines. This variety produces beautiful flowers that add floral flavours to the wine. It also gives it a light pink rose colour. It is dry and has a sweet, orange blossom, strawberry, and violet aroma. It goes well with seafood, creamy pasta, Thai, and Indian dishes.

LAMBRUSCO GRASPAROSSA

This grape variety makes bold Lambrusco wines that are very tannic. It has a berry-like aroma with a deep purple colour. This wine reflects the flavours of blueberries, dark currants and plum. It is full-bodied and dry with higher alcohol levels. Charmat is the most common method of making it. It’s great with grilled ribs, lasagna and fennel-infused sausages.

LAMBRUSCO SALAMINO

This grape variety produces a dark, fruity, and refreshing Lambrusco wine. These are cylindrical, salami-shaped grape wines and have a semisweet, dry frizzante texture. It is a deep ruby red with purple hues. It also has fruity notes of raspberry, cherry, and strawberry. The high acidity balances it. It is well paired with tomato-based pasta, cured meats, and Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese.

Lambrusco wine has been a staple of Italy for many generations. Lambrusco has received mouth recognition for many years and has featured in numerous artworks by poets and artists from Italy. Giosue Carducci, an Italian poet, loved this wine so much that he wrote these words in one of his letters.