With such broad guidelines, there is no “typical” style of Frascati. Some wines are subtle and flowery while others have lots of fruit and acidity. Accordingly, there is quite a diversity in the final styles of the wines.

The Trebbiano is more delicately flavored with floral notes that add a striking acidity to the wine, but not much flavor. The Malvasia gives the wine a citrus aspect. The balance of the grapes can be from several varietals: between 10% and 40% Malvasia del Lazio, up to 30% Greco and/or Trebbiano Giallo and/or Bellone and/or Bombino bianco, and up to 15% local white varietals. The wines are made from at least 50% Malvasia biance di Candia grapes. They are labeled as Novello, Superiore, or Novello Superiore. The dry table wines are perhaps the most popular. The potential, however, is there to really improve the wines.įrascati, under DOC laws, is made in either a dry or a sweet style and either still or in a Spumante (sparkling) style. It has historically had a widespread reputation as an inexpensive and serviceable white wine served in the cafés of Rome. The Mediterranean provides some influence but the climate is more affected by the hills.

The vineyards range from 200 to 1,000 feet in altitude. The wines made in close proximity to Rome are collectively known as Castelli Romani, nine communes that produce wine in the Alban Hills, which are just south of Rome.

Perhaps that is because Rome has always provided such a ready market for whatever wines were made, the growers were never really challenged. Despite being home to such an historic city, Lazio does not have the wine reputation of most of Italy’s other regions. Most of the grapes grown for wine in Lazio are white varietals. Rome sits in the province of Lazio (also called Latium), which is on Central Italy’s west coast along the Mediterranean. Visiting wine country? Get the Priority Wine Pass: 250 California Wineries, 1 Amazing Year Worth of Tastings, Only $45.

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