What is Lambrusco?
It is the name of the mainly red , made by tank method (spumante or frizzante), wines made from the family of Lambrusco varieties principally in the Emilia-Romagna in central Italy
What are the normal tasting notes associated with Lambrusco wines?
- Strawberry
- Cherry
- Red plum
- medium to medium (+) tannins
- High acidity
- Usually some residual sugar
- Color can range from pale pink to deep Ruby
What is the quality range of Lambrusco wines?
Mainly between acceptable to good, but there are a small number of very good examples
What is the normal price range for Lambrusco wines?
Inexpensive to mid-priced
Where is Lambrusco grown in Emilia-Romagna?
It is mainly grown inland between Parma and Bologna.
What is the climate of where Lambrusco grapes are grown?
Warm continental with adequate rainfall.
What are the main soil types where Lambrusco grapes are grown?
- Alluvial
- Clay (predominately)
- Silt.
List the most important Lambrusco varieties
- Lambrusco Salamino
- Lambrusco Grasparossa
- Lambrusco di Sorbara
What are the main forms of vine training for Lambrusco Grapes?
- Cordon trained via Sylvoz
- Geneva Double Curtain
What is the most widely planted Lambrusco variety and its tasting note?
Lambrusco Salamino is the most planted variety. It produces fragrant, deep colored, full-bodied wines with high acidity, it is mostly blended with other Lambrusco varieties.
What is the DOC for Lambrusco Salmino, and how much of the blend does it have to make up?
Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce DOC and Lambrusco Salamino must make up 85% of the blend
What are the important facts to remember about Lambrusco Grasparossa?
- Does best on clay and silt soils
- Only variety to be grown mainly on hillsides
- Full bodied
- Medium (+) tannins
What is the DOC for Lambrusco Grasparossa, and how much of the blend does it have to make up?
Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro DOC and Lambrusco Grasparossa must make up 85% of the blend
List the important facts about Lambrusco di Sorbara
- Makes a pale, lighter bodied wine with high acidity
What is the DOC for Lambrusco di Sorbara, and how much of the blend does it have to make up?
Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC and Lambrusco di Sorbara must make up 60% of the blend.
How long do most of the wines made from Lambrusco macerate on the skins?
Usually 1-2 days due to the high levels of anthocyanins found in the Lambrusco varieties
Which Lambrusco variety is used to create more structured, full bodied wines, and how long does the wine macerate with the skins?
- Lambrusco Grasparossa is the grape used to make full bodied and structured wines
- Maceration last 3-4 days.
What is the desired first fermentation temperature when producing Lambrusco wines?
64-68F/18-20C to retain the primary fruit aromas
True or False,
Lambrusco wines still go under MLC?
False! The block it to retain the acidity
How are most Lambrusco wines produced, and what is the temperature range for the second fermentation?
Tank method, and 55-59F/12-15C
How long does it take to create Frizzante Lambrusco vs Spumante Lambrusco?
- 2 weeks for Frizzante
- 1 month for Spumante
How is sweetness attained/managed for Lambrusco wines?
There is no dosage for dryer styles, but sweet wines either have the fermentation stopped at the desired sweetness level and/or are sweetened with must or RCGM
How do labelling terms vary between frizzante and spumante wines?
- Spumante will use the tradition terms accord to the EU categories for sparkling wine
- Frizzante wines have fewer categories, with each category encompassing a broader range of sweetness
Name the categories for frizzante Lambrusco
- Secco/asciutto
- Abboccato
- Amabile
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Standard Options in Sparkling Wine Making33
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Champagne97
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Othere Traditional Method Sparkling Wines in France4
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Cremant d'Alsace20
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Cremant de Bourgogne17
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Loire Valley22
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Cava51
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Sparkling Wines in Italy6
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Franciacorta21
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Trentodoc23
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Prosecco42
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Asti28
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Lambrusco26
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Germany33
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England and Wales17
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USA24
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Chile8
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Argentina18
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South Africa16
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Australia21
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New Zealand10
