Ch.11 – Lambrusco Flashcards

1
Q

Define Lambrusco

A
  1. A mainly red,
  2. mainly tank-fermented
  3. Sparkling (spumante) or semi-sparkling (frizzante) wine
  4. Made from Lambrusco varieties
  5. mainly in Emilia-Romagna in Central Italy
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2
Q

Describe the flavour profile and style of Lambrusco

A
  1. Red wines have strawberry fruit
  2. Medium to medium + tannins
  3. High acidity
  4. Usually some residual sugar
  5. Colour pale pink to deep ruby
  6. Quality: acceptable to good, some v good
  7. Price: inexpensive to medium
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3
Q

The climate, growing environment, soil and viticulture of Lambrusco

A
  1. West part of Emilia-Romagna, low hills (150m)
  2. Warm continental, adequate rain (735mm pa). Irrigation used at key times
  3. Alluvial soils, clay and silt. Fertile. Good water retention. Prone to compaction: grass between rows, also allows mechanisation.
  4. Fertile soil and high vigour grapes = high yields
  5. Cordon trained (eg Sylvoz) or Geneva Double Curtain (full mechanisation)
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4
Q

Hazards, pests and diseases in Lambrusco

A
  1. Rain at harvest (monitor weather)
  2. Fungus due to humidity on river plain.
    • regular spray,
    • or reduce need by sustainable viticulture (monitoring weather to anitcipate/ prevent, canopy management)
  3. Grapevine yellows (bacterial, no cure, so rapid removal of affected vines and control vectors eg leafhoppers).
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5
Q

Most important grape varieties of Lambrusco

A
  1. Lambrusco Salamino
    1. Most planted. Fragrant, deep colour, full body, high acid, us blended with other Lambrusco varieties
  2. Lambrusco Grasparossa
    1. Best on clay/silt. Mainly on hillsides (unlike others)
    2. Deep colour, full body, med (+) tannins,.
  3. Lambrusco di Sorbara
    1. Pale, lighter body, high acid.
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6
Q

The main DOCs of Lambrusco

A
  1. Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce DOC
    1. min 85% L. Salamino. max yield 133 hL/ha
  2. Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro DOC
    1. ​​min 85% L. Grasparossa, max yield 126 hL/ha
  3. Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC
    1. min 60%, max yield 126 hL/ha
  4. Lambrusco di Modena DOC Blend of lambrusco varieties grown in Modena. Max v high 161 hL/ha. Low concentration/ inexpensive.
  5. Reggiano Lambrusco DOC L. varieties in delimited area of Reggio-Emilia
    1. max yield 126 hL/ha
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7
Q

How is Lambrusco made in the winery?

A
  1. Product process allows quick, high vol wine
  2. Typically 1-2 days maceration (Lambruscos high anthocyanins, minimise tannin extraction)
  3. 3-4 days Gasparossa more structured, full body
  4. Tank. 1st fermentation low 18-20C preserve primary fruit
  5. Unusually for red, malo blocked to preserve high acidity
  6. 2nd ferment low 12-15C 2 weeks frizzante, 4 wks spumante
  7. No additional lees to preserve primary fruit
  8. No dosage dryer styles (zero to Brut)
  9. Sweet wines stop ferment or add must/ RCGM
  10. Also made: some bottle-ferment and some trad undisgorged ancestral method
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8
Q

Wine laws governing Lambrusco

  • alcohol levels
A
  1. DOCs
    1. spumante minimum 11% abv
    2. frizzante min 10.5% abv
  2. Sweet (amabile or dolce) min 7% if res sugar gives required level of sweetness towards alcohol level
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9
Q

Wine laws governing Lambrusco

  • labelling terms & sweetness levels
A
  • Standard sparkling incl Lambrusco spumante
    • dossagio zero 0-3g/L
    • extra brut 0-6g/L
    • brut 0-12 g/L
    • extra dry 12-17 g/L
    • sec, secco, asciutti 17-32 g/L
    • demi-sec/abboccato 32-50 g/L
    • dolce > 50g/L
  • Lambrusco frizzante (fewer categories/ broader bands)
    • ​secco/asciutti
    • abboccato
    • amabile
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10
Q

Describe Lambrusco’s wine business

A
  1. Av size property small <span>3 ha (doubled since 2000, as growers leave) Most growers vinify fruit in co-ops/ larger private wineries) </span>
  2. 1/3 sold in Italy (supermarket, hospitality) 2/3 export (2016)
  3. Sparkling: DOC 25-30%, rest IGT
  4. Past poor quality/high vol lambrusco “cheap, red, frothy, sweet”. Lambrusco not protected name (unlike prosecco)
  5. But some good quality now made eg Cleto Chiarli.
  6. Revival on the way?
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11
Q

Give a case study in consolidation in Italy’s sparkling wine business

A
  • Cantine Riunite & CIV
  • Italy’s largest wine co (turnover val 2016).
  • specialises in Lambrusco and Prosecco.
  • Cantine Riunite created 1950 - merger of nine local wine co-ops in the province of Reggio Emilia. Then joined by the CIV co-ops in the province of Modena.
  • Now 1,800 members.
  • 2002 bought Prosecco producer Cantine Maschio and in 2008 large co-op Gruppo Italiano Vini (GIV)
  • Now a portfolio: Lambrusco, flavoured wine-based drinks, Prosecco and via GIV, wines from across Italy.
  • Sells half in Italy (via retailers) half exported. Historically, success with Lambrusco Amabile in the USA.
  • Top export markets UK, USA, Mexico, Germany and France. Turnover up 30 per cent (2010/11–2015/16) due to sparkling wine.
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