Winery: Ca’ De’ Medici
Brand/Type: White Lambrusco
Vintage: n/a
Country: Italy
Region: Reggio Emilia
Alcohol content: 7%
Closure: Natural cork
Appearance: Very pale straw
Aroma/Bouquet: Musty grapes and strawberries.
Lambrusco. The name alone for many over the age of 40, conjures up memories of discos full of sweat and polyester – Wide lapel wearing lounge lizards hitting on free love disco dollies. Lambrusco was indeed a popular drink of that era. A sweet red wine that seemed to give the drinker a (false) sense of sophistication and still get their date drunk. Hindsight is 20-20 and Lambrusco has not been seen in a good light for many years.
So it was with special intrigue that this writer felt awkwardly embarrassed to purchase this wine. Luckily the clerk was far too young to make any association with my purchase.
Our review is of Ca’ De’ Medici’s White Lambrusco. A semi-sweet sparkling white Lambrusco. Yes, that is correct. A sparkling, white, Lambrusco. This is an uncommon find.
Ca’ De’ Medici is a small producer especially when compared to better known Riunite. Ca’ De’ Medici wines are crafted, not mass produced. Their production is 3 million liters compared to 132 million. Our bottle was proof of that. The wine tasted of sweet ripe berries but not overwhelmingly sweet as you might expect. Instead it showed good structure and a tart finish. Of course the carbonation takes the sweet edge off.
Perfect for desert or the patio; celebrate something special! Go ahead and drink this without shame, the past is forgotten.