Lambrusco DOC

The wine that tells the story of Emilia

There is a wine in Reggio Emilia that not only accompanies meals, but also sets the pace for life’s key moments: celebrations, the changing seasons and daily rituals.
It is Lambrusco, a wine that is sparkling by nature and character, born of a tradition that saw it as slightly restless, capable of coming to life again in the bottle with the arrival of spring.
The name Lambrusco actually refers to a family of ancient grape varieties, united by a common origin and cultivated since time immemorial in the provinces of Reggio Emilia and Modena, extending towards Parma and the Mantua area.
It is a vineyard-covered landscape that blends into the plain, where the rows of vines bear witness to an agricultural continuity that spans the centuries.

Lambrusco Reggiano encompasses several distinct varieties: Salamino, Marani, Maestri, Montericco, Ancellotta and Malbo Gentile, which together give rise to wines with a direct, lively and immediate character.
Whether red or rosé – and, more rarely, white in more recent interpretations – they always retain an unmistakable signature: freshness, fragrance and a lightness that is only apparent.

It is a wine made for conviviality.
Historically sold in bulk in local cellars, often in demijohns, Lambrusco still retains this connection to an everyday, informal way of life.

Between Territory and Identity

In the heart of the province of Reggio Emilia, Lambrusco finds its most authentic expression.
It was here, in 1972, that the Consortium for the Protection of Lambrusco Reggiano was founded, later evolving into the Consortium for the Protection of Vino Reggiano DOC, to safeguard a winemaking identity deeply rooted in the local area.
More recently, the producers’ commitment has also extended to promoting the brand, with the aim of showcasing Lambrusco beyond local borders, without compromising its origins.

The everyday wine

Lambrusco does not need to be laid down: it should be drunk young, in the spring following the harvest, when its liveliness remains intact.
Served chilled, at around 16°C, it opens up effortlessly and should be uncorked just before drinking, with a quick, familiar gesture.
It is the natural companion to Emilian cuisine: from lasagne with ragù to traditional boiled meats, from zampone to cotechino, right through to the cured meats that reflect the region’s rural culture.
Its sparkling character enhances the richness of these dishes, without ever overpowering them.

An ancient history

The history of Lambrusco has its roots in Roman times, when the wine-growing potential of these lands was already recognised.
The ‘lambrusche’ vines, often trained against trees – particularly elms – shaped an agricultural landscape where vines and nature coexisted in harmony.
From those bunches of grapes comes a wine that has always accompanied the local cuisine, becoming an integral part of it.
Today, Lambrusco also represents an important economic asset for the region, produced by a widespread network of small and medium-sized wineries that preserve its tradition whilst renewing its style.
Varying in colour from ruby to rosé, sparkling and approachable, Lambrusco thus remains one of Emilia’s most authentic symbols: a wine that is not merely something to be drunk, but one that continues to tell the story of a land and its way of life.

Contact

Consorzio Tutela Lambrusco DOC