On the northern border of the Lazio region, in the province of Viterbo, the Vulsini area, or Etruria Viterbese, between Lake Corbara and Lake Bolsena is historically renowned to produce characteristic white wines. In recent times, it has also been found to be a fertile area to produce red wines, one example being Montiano, one of the first great Italian Merlots. As the Apennines were formed in the Tertiary period, the Tyrrhenian band of Central Italy was affected by magmatic explosions. Like many other lakes in Lazio, Lake Bolsena was the crater of a volcano. Today the vineyards in this area cover land of volcanic origin, and the hills are made of tuff. This well-balanced soil is rich in nutrients for the vines, and it is well known that the wines from this area have been popular for many centuries.