If you ask a Modenese what the typical wine of our province is, the answer will be “Lambrusco“.
Lambrusco, the world-famous sparkling red wine, is the ideal accompaniment to our traditional dishes: from tortellini and zampone to gnocco fritto (fried gnocco) and crescentine (or tigelle, for ‘outsiders’)..
In fact, it would be more correct to speak of Lambruschi (Lambruscos, plural): in our province alone there are three Lambrusco DOC [DOC is a quality label for wine products that are in compliance with certain requirements], each with different characteristics:
- Lambrusco di Sorbara, produced in the ‘bassa’ (lowland) area of Modena, with its characteristic pale colour, delicate aroma and traditionally dry, acidic flavour;
- Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro, produced south of the Via Emilia, as far as the Apennines hills, with a dark ruby red colour, a strong vinous aroma and a sweeter taste than Sorbara.;
- Lambrusco Salamino di Santacroce, also produced in the ‘bassa’ of Modena, but with a grape variety other than Sorbara, which gives it characteristics closer to those of Grasparossa.
There is also the Modena DOC, with Lambrusco made from vines that are different from those of the more traditional DOCs, also in sparkling and rosé versions.
As well as dry, Lambrusco can be enjoyed in semi-sweet or sweet versions.
In short, you simply have to try them all! (but remember to drink responsibly, and only if you are over eighteen)
Fun facts
Did you know that Lambrusco is the best-selling Italian wine in the world, with 17 million litres exported each year?
‘Lambrusco’ is the name of a family of black grapes, 12 varieties of which (Sorbara, Grasparossa, Salamino, Foglia Frastagliata, Barghi, Maestri, Marani, Montericco, Oliva, Viadanese, Benetti and Pellegrino) cover more than 10,000 hectares in the provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia.
Coppola Winery presented a collection of wines in cans. “We were the first to use this format,” explains the sommelier at the Californian winery of the famous Italian-American director Francis Ford Coppola.
But Giacobazzi, a historic winery in Modena, started selling a sparkling wine in cans over forty years ago (it was 1983!), called Otto e ½, which was a great commercial success, especially in the United States!
We owe the success of Lambrusco in the United States to Antonio Giacobazzi.
Despite being warned that Americans did not drink wine but only beer, whisky and Coca Cola, and that the name Giacobazzi was difficult to pronounce, the stubborn Modenese entrepreneur began his overseas adventure in 1969; Ten years later, his winery was selling over 1,500,000 cases of Lambrusco a year.
By the end of the 1970s, thanks to advertising jingles such as ‘Giacobazzi it’s my wine’, ‘Giacobazzi…someone tonight’ and ‘Giacobazzi spoken here’, its wines, bottled or canned, were sold and appreciated throughout North America.
And the link between Lambrusco and the United States is still very strong: even Cameron Diaz chose Lambrusco for her 100% organic brand Avaline to celebrate the holidays!