Lazio wine region

The Lazio wine region is in central Italy, around the city of Rome and going from the Tyrrhenian coast to the Apennine hills. It has about 23,000–28,000 hectares of vineyards and is one of the oldest areas for wine in Italy.^[1][2] Most wines are white but there are more reds now since the 1990s.^[3]

Wine growing in Lazio started with the Etruscans.^[3] In Roman times wines from Latium Vetus and Latium Adiectum like Cecubo, Setinum, Albano and Falernum were liked by Cato, Pliny and Virgil.^[3] After the Empire ended, vineyards stayed near monasteries and later in the Papal States, but in the 18th and 19th centuries quality declined.^[3] After phylloxera in the early 1900s many coops made wine but looked more at quantity than taste.^[3] Things changed in the 1990s, producers used lower yields, better pruning and some organic farming, and they brought back grapes like Cesanese, Bellone and Malvasia del Lazio.^[3][4]

Lazio has varying landscapes, from the Tyrrhenian Sea to lakes and mountains.^[4] - Mountains': the Simbruini, Cimini, Reatini and Ciociaria hills have limestone and clay soils, cool weather makes slow ripening and nice aroma in white grapes.^[4] - Coastal areas': Maremma Laziale, Agro Romano and Agro Pontino have Mediterranean air, sandy or alluvial soils and sea winds, good for Bellone, Moscato di Terracina and Vermentino.^[3][4] - Volcanic areas': around Bolsena, Bracciano and Albano lakes, soils are tuff and lava with mild air, wines like Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone and Aleatico di Gradoli come from here.^[3][4] - Castelli Romani and Sabatini hills': soils with potassium help Frascati and other white wines have minerality.^[3][4] - Pontine Islands': vineyards on Ponza and Ventotene make salty wines, often Biancolella, thanks to wind and sea.^[4]

The climate is Mediterranean on the coast, with soft winters and fresh summers, while inside it is more continental, with big day-night and season temperature changes.^[3][4]

Vines are mostly on hills at 200–500 m above sea level.^[1][2] Old pergola and tendone systems are slowly replaced by Guyot and cordon to produce better grapes.^[3] White grapes are about 75%.^[1] The main ones are Trebbiano Toscano', Trebbiano Giallo and Trebbiano del Lazio, main base for Frascati.^[3] Malvasia Bianca di Candia and Malvasia del Lazio (puntinata) give floral and fruit notes with almond.^[3] Other whites are Bellone, Moscato di Terracina, Bombino Bianco, Grechetto, Passerina, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Vermentino.^[3][4]

Reds are about one quarter.^[1] Cesanese' (Comune, Affile and Piglio) is the main red, with body, red berries, spice and leather.^[3][4] Montepulciano, Sangiovese and Ciliegiolo are old ones, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Nero Buono and Aleatico also grow, esp for IGT wines.^[3]

In the 2010s Lazio had 3 DOCG, 27 DOC and 6 IGT.^[1] - DOCG: Cesanese del Piglio, Frascati Superiore, Cannellino di Frascati.^[3] - DOC: Frascati, Castelli Romani, Colli Albani, Cerveteri, Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone, Aleatico di Gradoli, Circeo, Aprilia, Cesanese di Affile, Cesanese di Olevano Romano, Velletri, Cori, Vignanello, Colli Etruschi Viterbesi, Colli della Sabina and others.^[3] - IGT/IGP': Lazio IGP and also Roma, Frusinate, Viterbese, Latina.^[2][3]

Lazio is known for easy white wines, like Frascati' and other blends of Trebbiano and Malvasia from Castelli Romani.^[3] They are often dry fresh.^[3][4] In recent years, reds from Cesanese have received more attention and have ripe fruit and spice.^[3][4] IGP wines from Syrah, Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon also became successful.^[3] Sweet wines are Cannellino di Frascati DOCG and Aleatico di Gradoli DOC.^[3]