Tell us about the event you are hosting on November 18 and how you are involved?
After 25 years living in Italy and writing about Italian wine and food, I’m always excited when I find wines that go really well with the kinds of Italian foods we all love: antipasti, pastas and pizza.
Lambrusco is one, for sure, and I’ve been wanting to help spread the word about Lambrusco in the UK for a while. I’m delighted the Consorzio Tutela Lambrusco DOC has given me the chance to bring a huge range of Lambrusco wines to London – 100 different labels – for our friends from the trade to taste and discover. There will be a walk-around tasting from 1-6pm followed by a Pizza and Lambrusco Party, because nothing goes as well with pizza as Lambrusco.
This is the first generic event you have held like this in the UK - why are you choosing now to bring the best of Lambrusco to the UK?
I think it’s about time Lambrusco claimed its rightful place on wine lists in UK wine bars and restaurants. It’s such a delicious, pleasurable and versatile wine. I love the fact that it can easily pass from a stand-alone aperitivo to the wine to accompany a dinner with friends. And it’s affordable. So it ticks a lot of boxes.
UK buyers can explore Lambruscos made throughout Emilia Romagna at the November 18 London tasting
We are presenting 100 Lambrusco wines being made in the six DOC areas within the Consorzio’s remit, from the provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. This will give the tasters the chance to select their favourites from a wide range.
Emilia Romagna is a highly productive agricultural region for food and wine. Think Parma ham, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, hand-made pasta and traditional, rich sauces. Lambrusco is perfect for these foods as it is sparkling but dry, with enough body and brightness to refresh the palate as you eat.
Can you give us a better idea of the wines and producers that will be at the tasting?
I wanted to show how diverse modern Lambrusco is and that will be apparent from the first glance: its colours go from pale yellow through soft pinks and ruby reds to deep vibrant purples. Lambrusco is made from a large family of native grape varieties. The best known are probably Lambrusco di Sorbara and Grasparossa but Salamino and many other minor varieties play a part in the overall complexity of these wines.
Lambrusco is made from native Italian grape varieties. Photograph Marco Parisi
We will have 100 wines coming from all six DOCs made by a range of 21 producers: from small family wineries to large Coops representing hundreds of growers. During the afternoon we will also be holding two masterclasses on Lambrusco given by Ray O’Connor MW featuring 8 wines each to offer a close-up look at the features of modern Lambrusco.
What have been the biggest changes in Lambrusco over the last five years that buyers need to be aware of?
In the last 10-15 years, winemaking in Italy – as in other countries – has changed a lot. Gone are the sometimes erratic results of traditional winemaking or old-fashioned cellars. Wineries have invested in modernisation and Lambrusco is no exception. I think people will be impressed by the consistency of these primarily dry wines, by their lovely perfumes of violets, berries and roses and their palates of fresh grapey flavours with the enough acidity and tannic structure to make them perfect with food.
Caselvetro in the heart of the Lambrusco wine region. Photo by Marco Parisi.
Lambrusco is also seeing the changeover to a new, younger generation of winemakers, often the children of traditional wine-producing families, who have studied enology, travelled the world and speak English. They are bringing fresh ideas and the results are showing in the many award-winning Lambrusco wines we are presenting in London. This is a rare opportunity to see the big picture on one of Italy’s favourite wines.
Over 140 million bottles are produced of Lambrusco annually, of which 35 million are DOC wines. Of these 35 million bottles, 70% is drunk in Italy, and 30% sold to export, with the US taking the largest share. In all Lambrusco is exported to 90 countries. That’s why we’re keen to share this popular Italian favourite with more people in the UK.
How important is the UK market?
Italian wine expert Carla Capalbo has helped organise the November 18 tasting
The UK is always an important market for any category of wine. We are such an open-minded and curious group of consumers, and the range of styles of wines from so many different countries you find here is unrivalled. We have loved Italian wines for a long time and are always looking for new crushes. So I think there’s plenty of room in this market for Lambrusco to become really popular. This event will be the first of its type – but not the last!
I could see Lambrusco easily fitting into the wine lists of pizzerias and Italian restaurants, as well as wine bars and retailers. It’s very good value. It’s also more versatile than Prosecco and has the advantage of being able to accompany many styles of international cuisine. That’s a big plus. Above all it’s a wine that, despite being very well made, doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s fun to drink and that has huge appeal.
To prove that point, we are holding a Lambrusco and Pizza party after the main walk-around tasting. Chef Theo Randall – who is well-known for his authentic Italian food – will be serving three kinds of pizza on the evening, with salumi and cheese from Emilia-Romagna and one home-made pasta. There will be a live DJ and lots of Lambrusco to drink.
Lambrusco Goes Large in London
1pm-6pm. Central London.
Followed by 6pm-10pm: Lambrusco Pizza Party.
For more details and to register email Alison Mann on alison@ew-pr.co.uk.
