What to drink in Rome
Rome is an amazing city, one of the most beautiful in the world, and in addition to the cultural and artistic heritage, it has ancient food and wine traditions.
But while the quality of its gastronomic culture is renowned around the world, most people don't know much about the local wines. This is probably due to the fact that, despite its long viticultural history and good potential, the regional wine production has always been more directed towards quantity rather than quality.
Nonetheless, things have changed lately, and the local producers have started to focus on indigenous varieties and the use of modern technologies, so that it is now possible to find very good local wines.
Most of the local wines come from the Castelli Romani, an area of great traditions in the field of viticulture. Since the time of the ancient Romans, the hilly area of the hinterland produced wines for the capital. The beautiful exposures and the moderate climate, still affected by the breezes of the nearby Tyrrhenian Sea, constitute a perfect habitat for the vine. The soils of ancient volcanic origin have proved to be particularly suitable for the cultivation of white grape varieties that express themselves with great finesse and elegance.
Here is our suggestion on what you should drink in Rome (if you want to drink local).
FRASCATI SUPERIORE
The Frascati Superiore DOCG wine is a blend of various white grapes historically grown in the Castelli Romani, the main one being the Malvasia di Candia or Puntinata, a particularly valuable biotype of Malvasia (an ancient aromatic vine of Greek origin) widespread almost exclusively in Lazio.
To give lively acidity and freshness to the wine, Malvasia is usually combined with a small percentage of Trebbiano Toscano or Trebbiano Giallo, Bellone, an interesting native Lazio grape variety spread since ancient times in the countryside of Rome and Latina, and Bombino Bianco, another local grape.
The wine shows an elegant bouquet, it is gently aromatic and soft, with notes of ripe fruit. On the palate it has a good body and a perfect balance between juicy fruit and freshness. The finish is pleasantly savory. It goes very well with the typical dishes of Roman cuisine: bucatini all'amatriciana, coratelle with artichokes, spaghetti alla carbonara and with tasty fish preparations.
CESANESE DEL PIGLIO
Among the red wines of Lazio, Cesanese del Piglio DOCG is certainly the most famous, typical and linked to its territory.
It is produced in the large slice of Ciociaria which includes the municipalities of Piglio, Acuto, Paliano, Serrone and Anagni, in the province of Frosinone, where viticulture has an ancient history, as evidenced by the archaeological finds.
The merit of its success is also definitely linked to the environment in which the grapes are grown: the soil of volcanic origin and the hilly terrain, whose slope prevents any stagnation of water and allows good exposure to the sun, give this area an excellent oenological potential, thanks also to optimum climatic conditions.
The wine is an inviting ruby red that turns to garnet with maturity, and has a characteristic scent reminiscent of ripe sour cherries. Full-bodied and soft in the mouth, with a slightly almond finish, it is traditionally drunk with chestnuts when young, with lamb when it reaches its middle age and with important dishes based on game and red meats when fully mature.
CANNELLINO DI FRASCATI
Cannellino has historically been the sweet wine par excellence in Rome. It is produced with the same grapes as dry Frascati wine but harvested later, after a natural drying on the vine.
The result is a wine with a great balance between soft sweetness and pleasant acidity; a dessert wine that it's never too sweet with gentle aromas of apple, pear and apricot, citrus peel, wildflower honey, toasted dried fruit, orange blossom, lemon balm and chamomile.
It goes very well with panettone and pandoro, brioche and krapfens or donuts, with biscuits and cakes made with dried fruit and cream, but its most classic match is a fruit tart (crostata di frutta).
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