­Have you ever enjoy a glass of sweet Lambrusco wine ? This flavorful wine comes from the northern Italian region of Emilia - Rom­agna , one of Europe ’s most luxuriou­s areas . The cuisine and wine-colored of this land , germinate over centuries , have a worldwide report . Geographically , Emilia - Romagna consists of two distinct regions , to the west and east of the regional capital of Bologna .

­Emilia is name­d for the Via Aemilia , a route built by the ancient Romans that link Bologna to the city of Modena , Reggio Emilia and Parma­ to its nor'-west . The ancient Romans also lend their name to the easterly portion of the province , which stretches to the Adriatic Sea and admit Ravenna , once the Washington of the Western Roman Empire .

Emilia - Romagna lies to the Dixieland of the Po River , and the fertile Po valley is the beginning of the region ’s agricultural wealth and high standard of living . Bologna is considered Italy ’s center of gastronomy , and a variety of distinctive wine are cultivated in the area to match the specific feel of local products such as ragù.alla bolognese ( bolognese sauce ) and balsamic vinegar of Modena . The dry wine of Romagna , like Sangiovese and Albana , are not very well known among casual wine drinker , but the signature potable of Emilia – Lambrusco – was popularized by the Riunite mark and became one of the most popular American imports during the seventies . Yet so much of a good affair is n’t always such a near affair . The popularity of an inexpensive , cloyingly sweet Lambrusco has obscured the high quality and individuality of the unlike strains of the Lambrusco grape . More recently , artisanal Lambrusco has begin to get its portion of realisation .

Let ’s take a light and frothy tour through the fascinating history of Emilia - Romagna and its viniculture . We ’ll learn how Italians grow wine grapes and administer the business of wine , and we ’ll also investigate the delicious diverseness of the Emilia - Romagna terroir . Grab a decanter and andiamo !

Emilia-Romagna Wine Region History and Culture

The food and vino that are paramount to Italian cultivation particular date back to ancient time . The relationship betwe­en the Emilia region and the Lambrusco grapevine seem to have lasted for millennia – archeologist have found fossilised stiff of the Vitis Labrusca plant that are between 12,000 and 20,000 years old . These fruits were almost for sure hazardous rather than cultivate .

The birth of wine product in Emilia - Romagna probably occurred in the 7th 100 B.C. , in the Villanovan civilisation in the Po Valley [ source : DiWine Taste ] . Evidence also suggest that the Etruscans cultivated Lambrusco in the area and may have been the ace to leave the practice of viticulture to cardinal Italy [ generator : Muhawi ] . for certain the industry was in full footstep by the altitude of the Roman Empire , as evidenced in the writings of the poet Virgil and the scholar Pliny the Elder that refer specifically to the Lambrusco grape and its nature .

The naturalist Marcus Terentius Varro , whose workplace " De Re Rustica " ( On Agriculture ) influenced both author , confirmed that Albana , Trebbiano and Spergola grapeshot were being rise in the Po River valley in the first century B.C. [ source : DiWine Taste ] . And according to a legend date from the fifth 100 A.D. , a daughter of the Roman emperor was provide Albana vino in a small Romagnan hamlet and exclaimed that such a potable should be drunk in gold ( in Latin , " berti in oro " ) . Thus , the small town pick out the name Bertinoro .

Over the eld , wine have develop and thrived in certain locations , with specific grapes and cultivation technique beseem to the stipulation of the soil and climate . Local wines and foods have acquire in near tie-up with each other . Emilia - Romagna is the source of many treasures of Italian cuisine , such as parmigiano reggiano cheeseflower , Prosciutto di Parma and other recovered meats . The unique vino of the realm are meant to complement the savour of the local culinary art .

How do they do it ? What ’s in that dirt ? Read on to learn more .

Emilia-Romagna Wine Region Agriculture

It certainly convey a kind of influences and acquisition to ­ bring forth great wine . Today ’s winemaking practices are a upshot of the preservation of longstanding tradition and the artful blending of ethnic , social and agricultural practice . Emilia - Romagna , for example , bears the ethnical bequest of the Greco - Roman Catholic and Etruscan civilizations , down to small details like techniques of growing and pruning grapevines . The ancient Greeks characteristically train their vines with short canes set into the flat coat some distance apart , in what is called theheadorgoblet system . The Etruscans , on the other hand , used longer canes to attach vine to the outgrowth of tall Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Today both systems are still used in the vineyard of Emilia - Romagna [ rootage : Fontana ] . Lambrusco grape vine , the master variety grown for wine in Emilia , are unremarkably back vertically on trellises , to reduce the likeliness of mould [ source : Apicella ] .

Some influence are not always good . In the late 19th one C , an epidemic of the parasite Phylloxera devastated European vineyards . As the fields recover in the early 20th century , social alteration were transforming European agriculture . The common practice session of sharecropping was on its way out , to be supersede by a system of cooperatives and privately have estate . These new vineyards phase out the mixing and rotation of different crop , centre on the sole ormonoculturalcultivation of wine grapes [ source : Fontana ] .

By the mid-20th one C , the quantity of vino produced in the region had skyrocket , lead to business about diminishing timbre . Wine is serious business in Italy , and the government desire that bequest to keep . To address the proceeds , a consortium was created in 1962 to preserve the classical wines of Romagna [ source : DiWine Taste ] . The national politics even found strict organisation of timbre ascendance . The most distinguished of traditional wine - growing region meet the appointment ofDenominazione d’Origine Controllata(DOC : Denomination of Controlled Origin ) andDenominazione d’Origine Controllata e Garantita(DOCG : Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin ) . Twenty sphere of Emilia - Romagna have empty the DOC label [ source : DiWine Taste ] .

If you ’re interested in " savour " some of the unlike wines of this region , move ahead !

Famous Wines of the Emilia-Romagna Region

crimson or white ? Among Italian wine - grow regions , Emilia - Ro­magna is note for the multifariousness and case-by-case personality of its wines . Emilia is affiliate principally with Lambrusco , afrizzante(mildly sparkling ) red . However , there are vast differences of character within the several Lambrusco variations . Only of late have the other varieties – the one Italians typically enjoy – touch American basement . The sharp Lambrusco di Sorbara and spicy Lambrusco Grasparossa are effervescent reds , juiceless to " amabile " ( slightly sweet ) in flavor , that geminate well with smoke kernel such as prosciutto , mortadella and Culatello di Zibello , all Emilia - Romagna product [ source : Reynolds ] .

Among the wines of Romagna , Albana di Romagna has gain much care with its attainment of the DOCG ranking – an achievement that has brought its share of controversy . Albana is a livid wine , usually dry . However , part drying the grapeshot before press out concentrates the sugar content and result in a sweet Albana calledpassito , which some aficionados describe as the Albana grape vine ’s all right expression [ source : Apicella ] .

Romagnans tend to favor Sangiovese , a red wine with full-bodied flavor and trunk [ source : DiWine Taste ] . Trebbiano di Romagna is a dry white wine-colored , sometimesspumante(bubbly ) , and so light that it is best consumed young . Lesser known Romagnan wines include Bosco Eliceo DOC , Cagnina , Colli Bolognesi and Pagadebit di Romagna .

winemaker in Emilia - Romagna are stimulate a concerted effort to preserve and commercialize traditional autochthonic varietals , in keeping with the Common Agricultural Policy ( CAP ) of the European Union . The CAP mandates that rural territories should press out their unparalleled and individual traditions [ informant : Fontana ] . However , they ’re also infusing more well - roll in the hay " international " varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot . The blends of international and autochthonal grapeshot ca n’t incur a higher denomination than IGT ( Typical Geographical Indication ) , but they ’re gaining in popularity . The result is a sumptuous array of choice , reflect both the revitalization of a proud and ancient tradition and the yield – literally – of a globalized market . Whether you prefer red or white , Emilia - Romagna surely turn in flavorful choices to please your palate .

For more information , grab a glass and visit the radio link on the next Thomas Nelson Page .

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