Latium (Lazio in Italian) Wine:
Rome's region is intrinsically linked to white wine, to Frascati and Marino and the other golden-hued bianchi of the Castelli Romani, as well as to the fabled Est! Est!! Est!!! from the northern Latium town of Montefiascone.
The ancient Romans drank white wines, too, though Horace and company reserved their greatest praise for the red Falernian and Caecuban, which were grown along the coast in southern Latium and Campania. Although white wine accounts for an overwhelming share of the region's production, certain of its red wines seem more convincing to connoisseurs.
Latium’s hills, favored by ample sunshine on fertile volcanic soils, seem to be naturally suited to the production of white wines based on various types of Malvasia and Trebbiano grapes. Rome’s wines, led by Frascati and Marino, were traditionally abboccato, pleasingly soft though not so sweet as to overwhelm the flavor of food. They were easy, everyday wines not designed to last long or travel far.
The use of low temperature processing and sterile filtration have transformed their personalities into dryer, crisper, more durable wines with a propensity to travel that has opened up commercial horizons. Still, with only occasional exceptions, the whites of Latium are pleasantly fleshy and fruity, wines that go enticingly well with a great range of foods but are not the sort to be laid away or fussed over.
Their immediacy is by no means a negative attribute, as evidenced by the established world market for Frascati, followed by Marino and less publicized but worthy neighbors such as Colli Albani, Colli Lanuvini, Castelli Romani, Velletri and Montecompatri Colonna. Though some admirers argue that the richer, stronger abboccato or cannellino versions are what Malvasia is all about, most modern consumers seem to prefer them softly dry.
Latium’s DOC reds vary in composition. Aprilia, in the reclaimed stretches of what were once the Pontine Marshes, turns out considerable quantities of Merlot and Sangiovese.
The reds of Cerveteri, Cori and Velletri are based on Montepulciano and Sangiovese. The native Cesanese makes richly flavored dry and sweet reds in the three DOC zones of the Prenestina and Ciociaria hills southeast of Rome. Aleatico makes a Port-like dessert wine on the northern shores of Lake Bolsena at Gradoli. The sweet Moscato di Terracina from the southern coast is a candidate for DOC.
Cabernet and Merlot are the stars of a number of highly praised modern reds of Latium, which prove that the fortunes of premium wine production are not confined to whites. |
Vino dei Castelli Romani - Roman Castles wine
Most of the Castelli Romani stand on the external ring of the volcanic crater of
the Colli Tuscolani, stretching over the Colli Albani till Monte Artemisio (925
above sea-level) to reach the Maschio Lariano (821 m above the sea-level) and
then extending northward on the Monte Salomone (773 m above the sea-level) to
meet again the Colli Tuscolani. The little internal ring is characterized by
Monte Cavo (949 m above the sea-level) and by Monte Faete (956 m above the
sea-level).
Coming from Rome visitors can observe Monte Cavo dominating the area with its
typical flat peak.
It seems to be the central volcano, but it was created by detritus coming from
the eruptions of the principal craters: i.e. the Lakes of Albano and Nemi and
those of Ariccia and Pavona, that have been drained.
All the grounds nearby have a volcanic origin, even if different in lava
consistency. The same origin characterizes the few alluvial soils of this zone;
thus they are very rich in potassium, an important element to process sugars,
and without calcium. Definitely the good drainage of these soils is due to their
layers. A main condition however has to be accomplished, i.e. loose volcanic
rocks on the surface level or just a meter underground have to be brought to the
direct exposure of atmospheric agents, so that within two years their
deterioration will form a fertile ground.
Average annual rainfalls range from 750 and 1,000 mms. on the coastal zone, and
reach 1,250 mms. on the hills, where viticulture is of main interest. On the
mountains the average amount of rain falling during a year is of 1,500 mms. but
these are forested. Spring and autumn are the most rainy seasons, and therefore
even during summer grounds are prepared to receive rain in the depth.
In the soils not very rich in humus is put manure through the “sovescio”
procedure, i.e. by planting during Spring leguminous plants such as the “favino”,
that can fix the atmospheric nitrogen in their roots, and can produce an
abundant vegetation, which by decomposing fertilize the soil, increasing the
capacity to absorb humidity.
The DOC Wine “Castelli Romani” has been the last one to be recognized. It has
been added to the other DOC wines to help many producers which have vineyard
characterized by only one type of vine, generally: spotted Malvasia, also named
Malvasia del Lazio or Greco. This aimed also to satisfy consumers different
exigencies and to control red wines production in those areas where only the
white one was already controlled. With the DOC “Castelli Romani” are controlled
not only red wines but also new wines and rose'.
Production territory: there are areas near to the Castelli Romani ones, similar
in environmental conditions, to expand the cultivation of those producers
already involved in the cultivation in the areas controlled by the DOC. The
producers in these surrounding areas have the same oenological and agronomical
culture of those of the Castelli Romani; these areas thanks to their
environmental and climatic characteristics have been added to the DOC “Castelli
Romani”.
Therefore, the territory characterized by the general denomination “Castelli
Romani”, consists also of the towns of Rocca di Papa, and Rocca Priora, and
Ciampino and Lariano which recently have been divided from Marino and Velletri;
Zagarolo and San Cesareo which already formed the Zagarolo DOC; and Cori,
Cisterna and Aprilia, recently included thanks to their geographical and human
conditions. Cori and Aprilia are already characterized by a specific DOC.
Courtesy of www.stradadeivinideicastelliromani.com
I Love Italian Wine and Food series - Latium Region: an article | Wineries in Latium | Italian Wine
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