Region: Lazio
Quality Level in EU/Italian Wine Law: Frascati DOC
Primary Grape Varieties: Malvasia Bianca di Candia or Malvasia del Lazio. The wines can also contain up to 30% of the high yielding Trebbiano in fresh, early drinking wines.
Frascati Superiore Versions - These are the ones to look for so find one with DOCG on the label.
Food Pairings: Seafood, vegetable pasta, Salads, charcuterie
Lazio is the region in which the City of Rome is located. Perhaps the greatest city in the world. It is not the most known for wines however with many of the other 19 Italian regions producing better known wines. However, Frascati remains a well known and appreciated white wine of Italy. It is produced from the Malvasia Grape - a white grape found in other regions but produced in its best form in Lazio.
The region is warm and mediterranean nearer the coast, becoming more continental as one moves inland. The best wines of Frascati are grown in the slopes of the Apennine Mountains with lower fertilely in the soil, balanced and well draining limestone and clay soils that keep the vines healthy with low seasonal rains.
Malvasia is an early budding and late ripening variety that prefers these conditions so that it can accumulate sugars more slowly and retain more acid. This is due to the 150-300 m elevation and high temperature difference between night and day. Less humidity at elevation means that the air can cool down slower resulting in cool nights that slows ripening and helps maintain acid for balanced wines. Frascati enjoys additional cooling from the sea adding to the lower overall temperatures and to a higher diurnal range.
The vineyards are established to assure adequate sun interception while protecting from sunburn. The grapes are harvested when they become ripe and before the acidity can drop. It is a precision that requires the best of the regional winemakers.
Malvasia Bianca is susceptible to oxidation and is handled carefully in the winery to maintain the fruity nature of the grapes. It gives medium _ intensity lemon and apple fruit with medium alcohol and medium + acidity.
Malvasia del Lazio is a lower yielding grape and less popular with growers. it also requires the careful harvest date selection as stated above. It has low disease resistance as compared to the others and is being planted less, being replaced with Malvasia Bianca.
Yield levels are critical to quality and the Frascati DOCG produces wines with far lower yields. The wines have greater concentration and must be aged at least one year before release. There is no oak requirements on Frascati wines but some are beginning to ferment in oak for greater texture.
These wines are popular as they pair well with food or can be enjoyed as they are.
Quality Level in EU/Italian Wine Law: Frascati DOC
Primary Grape Varieties: Malvasia Bianca di Candia or Malvasia del Lazio. The wines can also contain up to 30% of the high yielding Trebbiano in fresh, early drinking wines.
Frascati Superiore Versions - These are the ones to look for so find one with DOCG on the label.
Food Pairings: Seafood, vegetable pasta, Salads, charcuterie
Lazio is the region in which the City of Rome is located. Perhaps the greatest city in the world. It is not the most known for wines however with many of the other 19 Italian regions producing better known wines. However, Frascati remains a well known and appreciated white wine of Italy. It is produced from the Malvasia Grape - a white grape found in other regions but produced in its best form in Lazio.
The region is warm and mediterranean nearer the coast, becoming more continental as one moves inland. The best wines of Frascati are grown in the slopes of the Apennine Mountains with lower fertilely in the soil, balanced and well draining limestone and clay soils that keep the vines healthy with low seasonal rains.
Malvasia is an early budding and late ripening variety that prefers these conditions so that it can accumulate sugars more slowly and retain more acid. This is due to the 150-300 m elevation and high temperature difference between night and day. Less humidity at elevation means that the air can cool down slower resulting in cool nights that slows ripening and helps maintain acid for balanced wines. Frascati enjoys additional cooling from the sea adding to the lower overall temperatures and to a higher diurnal range.
The vineyards are established to assure adequate sun interception while protecting from sunburn. The grapes are harvested when they become ripe and before the acidity can drop. It is a precision that requires the best of the regional winemakers.
Malvasia Bianca is susceptible to oxidation and is handled carefully in the winery to maintain the fruity nature of the grapes. It gives medium _ intensity lemon and apple fruit with medium alcohol and medium + acidity.
Malvasia del Lazio is a lower yielding grape and less popular with growers. it also requires the careful harvest date selection as stated above. It has low disease resistance as compared to the others and is being planted less, being replaced with Malvasia Bianca.
Yield levels are critical to quality and the Frascati DOCG produces wines with far lower yields. The wines have greater concentration and must be aged at least one year before release. There is no oak requirements on Frascati wines but some are beginning to ferment in oak for greater texture.
These wines are popular as they pair well with food or can be enjoyed as they are.
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