Introduction

By The Vinorandum Team

Introducing Lazio as a wine region is rather challenging. It simultaneously a place of huge potential and startling disappointment. Arguably one of Italy’s most misunderstood wine regions, it is certainly one of the least fashionable internationally. The prevailing perception that Lazio is merely a source of cheap white wine and little else is a fairly common one, yet to believe it is to miss out on the best the region has to offer. A new generation of winemakers, with a renewed and welcomed interest in local grape varieties, is starting to make wines worthy of discussion and attention.

Lazio, located on the the west coast of central Italy, and home to the eternal city, is a region that boasts 30 different DOC wines. Most of them are scarcely known and many barely function, but nevertheless, they all theoretically offer something slightly different for the wine lover to get stuck in to. The majority are in the south of the region, in the rolling hills just south of Rome. Here, on these ancient slopes, known as the Castelli Romani, winemaking is easy. Conditions are perfect.

The majority of wine lovers know Lazio for its famous and historically significant Frascati wine. Produced from Malavasia and Trebbiano around the town of Frascati, the wine is known for its light, easy drinking simplicity. In recent years Frascati’s reputation has suffered. Like many classic Italian white wine areas, the 1970s and 80s saw the creeping influence of big bottlers, whose push for volume over quality resulted in lakes of uninteresting wine. Much like what happened in Soave, a Superiore version of Frascati was upgraded to DOCG status in a bid to protect the image of Frascati. The decision has not yet had the impact it’s had in Soave, although Frascati Superiore benefits from strict production rules that have the creation of quality wine at their core.

Appellations of Lazio

Cesanese del Piglio DOCG

Sometimes just referred to as Piglio DOCG, Cesanese del Piglio is home to quality red wines produced with the Cesanese di Affile grape.

Read more ▸ 8 producers10 wines

Cesanese di Olevano Romano DOC

Cesanese di Olevano Romano, or sometimes referred to simply as Olevano Romano is a red wine made in Lazio. Made from at least 85% of either Cesanese Comune or Cesanese di Affile they can also be found in Superiore or Riserva style.

Read more ▸ 3 producers5 wines

Frascati DOC

Once one of Italy’s most famous white wines, Frascati produces inexpensive white wine from Malvasia Bianca di Candia and/or Malvasia del Lazio.

Read more ▸ 2 producers2 wines

Lazio IGP

Lazio IGP is a catch all regional appellation for winemaking throughout the Lazio region. Traditional grape varieties can be used as well as a range of International ones.

Read more ▸ 15 producers36 wines