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Best Lazian Wine Appellation Types
Orvieto is the most important wine appellation for white wine in Umbria. The wines produced in the region are based on Grechetto (minimum 60%), while the blends often also include Trebbiano Toscano (locally known as Procanico) or other permitted white varieties.
Although the appellation also covers sweet wines—including noble rot style Muffa Nobile and late harvest Vendemmia Tardiva—which were once flagship styles, modern production is mostly oriented towards light and approachable dry white wines.
This white Italian wine is produced in Rome Lazio region with Malvasia Bianca di Candia and Malvasia del Lazio as principal grape varieties. The wine is usually crisp and fresh, with typical notes of white flowers, fruit, and citrus, while it can also display subtle herbaceous aromas.
Because of its good acidity and minerality, Frascati Superiore pairs with fish or poultry-based dishes, as well as seafood and fresh cheese, but it is an ideal accompaniment to light pasta dishes such as cacio e pepe, fettuccine Alfredo, or spaghetti aglio e olio.
This ruby red Italian wine is almost entirely produced from local Cesano grapes (both Cesanese Comune and Cesanese d’Affile varieties). It is typically a well-balanced, medium-bodied wine that usually displays floral notes and aromas of ripe dark berries, with underlying nuances of herbs and spices.
It pairs well with charcuterie, red meat, lamb, and local meat dishes such as coda alla vaccinara. It also comes as Superiore and Superiore Riserva that must be oak-aged for a minimum of 18 and 20 months, respectively. Interestingly, Cesanese del Piglio was the first wine region in Lazio that was granted full DOCG status.
Cannellino di Frascati is a dessert wine that hails from the province of Roma. In 2011, the appellation was awarded the highest (DOCG) status. These intense and full-bodied wines are made with Malvasia bianca di Candia and (or) Malvasia del Lazio (Malvasia puntinata), which must make up at least 70% of the blend.
Other permitted varieties include Bellone, Bombino, Greco, Trebbiano Toscano, and Trebbiano Giallo. Cannellino di Frascati are well-balanced wines with fruity and floral notes reminiscent of peaches, pineapple, apples, orange blossom, chamomile, and honey.
Aleatico di Gradoli is an Italian appellation located in the province of Viterbo in Lazio. The region produces several wine styles—dry red wine, passito version made with semi-dried grapes, and fortified style known as liquoroso.
All the wines are made from native Aleatico variety (a minimum of 95%), a semi-aromatic red grape cultivated in Lazio, Tuscany, and the island of Elba in Puglia. Fortified Aleatico di Gradoli is a dark, garnet-colored, full-bodied wine with an intense aroma reminiscent of ripe jammy fruit and sweet spices.
On the palate, the wines are concentrated, soft, and harmonious, with a long-lasting finish. The standard label has to be aged for six months, while the Riserva has to be oak-aged for at least two years.
Colli Albani is an Italian appellation located in central Lazio, on the hills just south of Rome. The wines are based on white Italian varieties Malvasia Bianca di Candia, which is locally called Malvasia Rossa, Trebbiano (di Soave, Giallo, or Toscano), and Malvasia del Lazio.
The wines can vary in sweetness, and the appellation includes two additional labels, Novello (young) and Spumante (sparkling). These straw-yellow wines are fresh, fruity, and floral. The aroma is usually reminiscent of peaches, jasmine, and chamomile.
Cesanese di Affile is a young DOC appellation from Lazio (province of Rome) that produces fruity red wines from the local Cesanese di Affile variety. The grape has to make at least 90% of the blend, but most winemakers produce 100% Cesanese.
The grape prefers higher altitudes, and the best locations are located on mountain slopes. These wines are fruity, spicy, and tannic. Their good structure is complemented by notes of ripe fruit with hints of licorice, spices, earthy nuances, and sometimes traces of balsamic and leather.
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