Lazio

The wines of Lazio have enjoyed many moments of glory in the past. Suffice it to recall the importance of wine to the Ancient Romans, the records attesting to the wines stored in the papal cellar at the time of Pope Paul III, or the legend of Est! Est!!! Est!!! of Montefiascone. "Est!" was the sign left by Bishop Defuk's cupbearer on an inn door to indicate that the place served good quality wine (in Latin est = 'there is'). The best known and most productive part of the region is the area called Castelli Romani, with soil of volcanic origin. White grapes such as Trebbiano (local name: Procanico), Malvasia di Candia and Malvasia Puntinata are grown here. There are numerous designations, but we shall mention two: Castelli Romani DOC and Frascati DOC. The white wines are structured and savoury. The most outstanding is Frascati Superiore DOCG also available as a Riserva. The wine has an intense floral and fruity bouquet, it is mouth-filling. It pairs well with white meat dishes as well as fish. There is also a sweet version that is traditionally paired with Maritozzi (sweet buns): Frascati Cannellino DOCG. Grechetto is also grown in the north of the region and is used to make Orvieto DOC white wines. This is an interregional designation between Umbria and Lazio. Also in the north, around Lake Bolsena, Aleatico di Gradoli DOC is produced.

The red wines of this region are usually made by blending Montepulciano grapes with the Sangiovese and Cesanese varieties. Velletri DOC Rosso is an example of this. But it is the native grape variety, Cesanese, cultivated in the hills to the east of Rome, that is winning the hearts of wine lovers nowadays. Cesanese del Piglio DOCG is a full-bodied wine with a fruity taste and tannins that can be a little rustic, but never excessive. Cesanese is also used to produce Cesanese d'Affile DOC and Olevano Romano DOC, not far from the hills of Piglio.