Lambrusco Shines with Red Fizz and Fun #ItalianFWT
Lambrusco for Italian Food Wine and Travel
This month, our Italian Food, Wine and Travel group is celebrating the fizzy, fun wine of Emilia-Romagna: Lambrusco. Take a look farther down in this post for a whole bunch of great takes on Lambrusco from my Italian wine loving buddies!
Lambrusco’s Challenges
Wine lovers in the US seem to be totally unaware of Lambrusco, thanks to a single word: Riunite. Riunite is a cloying sweet version of cheap Lambrusco. Thanks to great promotion, it was a huge hit when introduced in the 1980’s.
Almost as quickly, the public became tired of the drink, with the conclusion that all Lambrusco was cheap, fizzy and overly sweet. What a shame! I do remember seeing the commercials on TV as a kid.
In recent years, quality Lambrusco producers have been working to rebuild the reputation of this delicious and fun wine. Made from one of several Lambrusco grapes, the wine is typically made into a sparkling wine by the Charmat (tank) method. There are white, rosato and red versions, and a variety of levels of residual sugar are offered. Secco (dry) Lambrusco can be spotted either by the word “secco” on the label, or by checking the %abv of the wine. Dry Lambrusco is required to be at least 11% abv.
Dry Lambrusco is fruity, fizzy and fun. It’s a charming change of pace out on the deck or up at the lake in the summer. Serve it lightly chilled with a wide variety of foods. It’s a great pizza wine!
Cleto Chiarli e Figli “Premium” Lambrusco di Sorbara Secco DOC ($18 at Solo Vino or here online) 11%abv
Eye: Clear, bright candy red. Frizzante, with nice very fine bubbles
Nose: Clean, fresh red fruit, raspberries, but something just a bit earthy in the background.
Mouth: Dry, medium+ intensity flavors. While dry, it tastes of a touch of sweetness, perhaps similar to a Brut level of sweetness. Fresh bright red fruit, fizzy, fruity, tart. Very nice! Serve with a bit of a chill.
Easy pizza night with Papa John’s and Cleto Chiarli & Figli Lambrusco
Regional Foods with Lambrusco
If you’re a fan of “What goes together grows together”, try it with foods from Emilia-Romagna, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Mortadella, Prosciutto di Parma, and Balsamic Vinegar.
Some of the most coveted gourmet foods in Italy come from Emilia-Romagna, but the wines are underappreciated
Italian Food Wine and Travel Group Covers Lambrusco
Take a look below at all the great Lambrusco suggestions. If you see this note in time, please join our Lambrusco chat on Twitter on Saturday, June 1 at 10am CDT. Just search for #ItalianFWT.
- Camilla from the Culinary Adventures with Camilla will be featuring “Every Wine Deserves a Second Look: Warmed Brie with Mulberry Chutney + Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco di Sorbara Vecchia Modena 2018″
- Jill at L’Occasion shares “La Collina Biodynamic Bubbles — Lambrusco!
- Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm highlights “Lambrusco? Really??”
- Deanna from Asian Test Kitchen will showcase “Top 5 Fast Food Pairings with Lambrusco“
- Jeff at Food Wine Click will share “Lambrusco Shines with Red Fizz and Fun“
- Cindy of Grape Experiences will feature “Italian Old-School Classics: Easy Drinking Lambrusco with Spicy Vegetarian Pensa Romana”
- Marcia of the Joy of Wine will be highlighting “Lambrusco – The Star of Emilia-Romagna”
- Linda from My Full Wine Glass will be sharing “Sipping Lambrusco in Strawberry Season“
- Pinny of Chinese Food and Wine Pairings is focused on “Picnicking with Scarpetta Frico Lambrusco”
- Lauren at The Swirling Dervish will be sharing “Revisiting Lambrusco with Francesco Vezzelli Rive dei Ciliegi“
- Nicole with Somm’s Table shares “Cooking to the Wine: Pezzuoli Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro with Antipasto Pizza“
- Gwendolyn of Wine Predator will be showcasing “Bugno Martino’s Organic Lambrusco Defy Expectations“
- Susannah of Avvinare will be featuring “Lambrusco from Vitivinicola Rota“
- Jennifer of Vino Travels is sharing “Over 150 years of Dedication to Lambrusco with Cleto Chiarli“
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foodwineclick 
I poured that one, too – and am sharing it with #ItalianFWT, too – but the one that clinched it for me as a Lambrusco convert: Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco di Castelvetro Vigneto Cialdini 2017. Can’t wait to read everyone else’s take and chat about this wine.
I have a strong preference for the dry Lambruscos, after that, I have enjoyed them all!
How awesome that you all are shining a light on this misunderstood bubbly! I re-discovered Lambrusco last summer and it’s been a staple in our fridge ever since. 🙂
Thanks! Plus, it’s very fun to introduce to friends. Not too serious and fun bubbly!
The Cleto Chiarli Castelvetro (Grasparossa) is one of the top selling wines in the store I used to manage! People love it! Great tasting and so versatile with food! Thanks for making sure we know the difference between Riunite and NOT Riunite! Haha!
Thanks Marcia! Your comment threw me, I’ve had the Grasparossa Amabile and was surprised a sweet Lambrusco would be so popular. But I checked the website and there are several Cleto Chiarli Grasparossa wines!
Loved the cameos by Otto and Julie!
Me too! Julie is a natural of course, but I didn’t remember Otto’s appearance until I was editing the video. He’s a natural as well.
Hate to tell you I was not legally allowed to drink when Riunite was popular back then :-). Great Lambrusco 101 video. Looks like the Cleto Chiarli e Figli “Premium” Lambrusco di Sorbara tastes great and is a text-book version what a traditional Lambrusco should be!
Thanks Pinny. Not too worry, being old enough to have tasted Riunite (back then) is no real accomplishment!
This seems to be the popular pick this month. I agree with you pizza pairing. I think the flavors of pizza is what made my pairing work so well.
Cleto Chiarli must have great importers and distributors because they are obviously widely available! Helps that the wine is very good, too!
What a great video! With the background of a beautiful lake and cameos including a fluffy dog, it really captured the fun of Lambrusco and the frothy foam too!
Thanks Deanna!
You and I were clearly on a similar page with our pairings this month. That Lini white is fun right? I’ve had it with sushi a couple of times. Nice addition with the video too.
Thanks, Nicole, all the Lini wines are fun!
I love how the video turned out! and with a cameo from Otto 🙂 Looking forward to more of this content. Really cool, Jeff!
Thanks Jill! All I need is another time-consuming (but fun) addition! Otto and Julie are great on-air talent.
Love the video – yours, that is! Clearly Otto knows what’s good – his timing is impeccable, arriving just as the wine is about to be poured.
Love the video and also enjoyed that wine as well. You should try the Vigneto Cialdini. It was both mself and Cam’s top pick.