Lazio accounts for 3% of Italy’s wine production, with white wine comprising 80% of its output.
Rome’s region is intrinsically linked to white wine––to Frascati and Marino and the other golden-hued bianchi of the Castelli Romani, as well as to the fabled Est! Est!! Est!!! from the northern Lazio town of Montefiascone.
The region’s hills benefit from ample sunshine and fertile volcanic soil, which favor Malvasia and Trebbiano grapes.
It may come as a surprise that Lazio’s first DOCG was awarded to the red Cesanese del Piglio. Cesanese, native to the Prenestina and Ciociaria hills southeast of Rome, makes richly flavored dry and sweet reds.
Cabernet and Merlot are the stars of a number of highly praised modern reds of Lazio, which prove that the fortunes of premium wine production are not confined to whites. The region also produces several sweet wines, including Moscato di Terracina and Aleatico di Gradoli.
Common Local Grape Varieties
White Wine:
- Biancame (Bianchello)
- Bombino Bianco
- Malvasia
- Trebbiano
Red/Rosé Wine:
- Canaiolo
- Cesanese
- Merlot
- Nero Buono
- Sangiovese
DOC/DOCG
- Aleatico di Gradoli PDO
- Anagni PGI
- Aprilia PDO
- Atina PDO
- Bianco Capena PDO
- Cannellino di Frascati PDO
- Castelli Romani PDO
- Cerveteri PDO
- Cesanese del Piglio PDO (Piglio PDO)
- Cesanese di Affile PDO
- Cesanese di Olevano Romano PDO
- Circeo PDO
- Civitella d’Agliano PGI
- Colli Albani PDO
- Colli Cimini PGI
- Colli della Sabina PDO
- Colli Etruschi Viterbesi PDO (Tuscia PDO)
- Colli Lanuvini PDO
- Cori PDO
- Costa Etrusco Romana PGI
- Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone PDO
- Frascati PDO
- Frascati Superiore PDO
- Frusinate PGI
- Genazzano PDO
- Lazio PGI
- Marino PDO
- Montecompatri Colonna PDO (Colonna PDO) (Montecompatri PDO)
- Nettuno PDO
- Roma PDO
- Tarquinia PDO
- Terracina PDO (Moscato di Terracina PDO)
- Velletri PDO
- Vignanello PDO
- Zagarolo PDO