Frascati Wine Region

Frascati is a small wine region in the Lazio region of Italy. It is one of the most well-known Italian wines and its history dates back to ancient Roman times. Frascati wines are typically light, dry, and acidic with a distinctive taste that makes them perfect for pairing with food. Let's discover the Frascati wine region and its unique wines.

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Where is the Frascati Wine Region?

The Frascati wine region is a small wine region in Italy. It is located near Rome and is one of Italy's most famous wine regions. The Frascati viticultural area includes not only the commune of Frascati but also the vineyards of Grottaferrata and Monte Porzio Catone. I would say this map is definitely necessary for understanding the geography of Rome. We can see that it spreads northward into non-central Rome and eastward into some areas of the countryside. The western boundary is marked by Marino, one of the Castelli Romani.

The Terroir of Frascati wine region

The wines are mainly white wines, usually made from grapes like Trebbiano, Malvasia Bianca, and Bombino Bianco. There are approximately 472 hectares of vineyards in the DOC's territory now, producing 4.96 million liters of wine by the end of 2018. The Colli Albani and their two dams, Albano and Nemi, are ancient Latium's remains. Colli Albani is a region southeast of Rome that was created by this volcano's collapse. Frascati wine is enjoyed because the soils in which its grapes are grown are volcanic, fertile, and rich in potassium. One of the reasons Frascati wine is so typical is that it proliferates. Vineyards produce large harvests and it's cheaper to produce.

The History of the Frascati Wine Region

The Frascati wine region is a relatively small wine region in Italy. The wines produced in this region are mainly white wines and they are most popular in Rome. It is believed that the wines of Frascati were first produced by the monks at the San Pietro ad Aram monastery. The history of the Frascati wine region dates back to the 1500s when it was first established as a wine-producing district.

This wine takes its name from an ancient, tiny town just southeast of the city of Rome. According to archaeological research, grapes for wine production were cultivated here about 5,000 years ago.

Frascati Wines - A Dynamic Blend from the Old & New World

Frascati is a blend of Sangiovese, Montepulciano, and other local grape varieties. The wine is made in the traditional style of the old world, with minimal intervention in the cellar.

The Frascati region is located about 30 miles southeast of Rome. It is best known for its white wine made from the locally grown Trebbiano grape. However, it also produces a red wine called Frascati DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) that can be made from up to 70% Sangiovese and Montepulciano grapes.

Today, Frascati is one of the most popular white wines in Italy. It is also considered one of the best wines to drink while eating pasta, which is why it has become so popular in Italy. Different grape varieties are used to make Frascati wine, with Trebbiano as the main grape variety.

The vineyards of Frascati were discovered by a Roman poet in the first century BC, who encouraged the planting of grapevines there. The vineyards became important trading centers during the Middle Ages when grapes were exported to Northern Europe.

Food to Pair with Frascati Wine Region

Cacio e Pepe

Spaghetti Alla Carbonara is an ancient Roman dish that has been acclaimed as one of the simplest and most satisfying Italian dishes. Cacio e pepe is a classic dish where pasta is cooked in garlic, oil, and salt with lots of pepper until the sauce thickens. The sauce is then tossed with aged Pecorino Romano cheese. Since the ingredients are very easy to transport and do not spoil easily, this was once the favorite dish of Roman shepherds.

The spicy pepper protected shepherds from the cold during the winter nights while the pasta was still carbs they need to complete their hard labour. However, there is a simple meal that Tony Bourdain says is so good. He described it as "possibly the greatest thing that's ever been accomplished with sausages, bacon and eggs."

Pizza bianca

Pizza bianca or white pizza is a pizza that's made without tomato sauce, often using pesto in its place and/or sour cream. This pizza bianca is prepared without any sauce on top. It is instead sprinkled with salt and lemon juice, while chopped rosemary is sometimes added.

There are different variations of pizza Bianca and they all have a different set of toppings, but what they all have in common is that there isn't any tomato sauce on the dough.

Saltimbocca alla Romana

This dish is one of the most famous dishes in Rome and it has great regional significance. In fact, this dish is so traditional, that you would rarely find it outside of the region. One of the oldest Italian recipes is saltimbocca, which in Italian means it jumps in the mouth. The flavours are why and exactly what you can expect from this dish.

This dish is made with veal, prosciutto, and sage, which are then cooked together in white wine. The saltimbocca recipe isn't very old, but the first recorded trace of it is found in Pellegrino Artusi’s 1891 cookbook La Scienza in Cucina e l’Arte di Mangiar Bene. In the book, he mentions that he enjoyed the dish.

Saltimbocca Alla Romana is said to have originated from Brescia and not from Rome, where a nearly identical dish has been served for centuries.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Frascati Wine Region