Region: Lazio

Zone:

Frascati DOC(G)

Only a few kilometers outside Rome’s main ring road system (The GRA or Grande Raccordo Anulare) southeast of the eternal city, lies Frascati, which has been an essential part of the Romans’ everyday life since ancient times. From the days of imperial Rome, the mountains has been a favorite getaway for city dwellers, especially the area where Castel Gandolfo, the Pope’s favorite summer residence, is located.

It is the mountain town Frascati that gives its name both to the famous white wine and to the grapes that are grown on the gentle hills located north of the city. Almost half of the Castelli Romani wine production comes from Frascati, and experts believe that the Colli Albani mountains volcanic soil provide the Lazio region with the best white wines.

The name Frascati is derived from the huts built of brushwood (frascata) by forest workers during the Middle Ages. When the new wine was ready for sale, the way to signal it to the population was done by hanging branches or trees above each ‘osteria’ (small inn) door, which inspired the name of the area’s white wine.

The zone is suitable for viticulture due to its cool and slightly humid climate and the wine grows in good, mineral-black soil, which is appropriate for the grapes Malvasia and Trebbiano.

In addition to the dry type, there is also produced a sweet dessert wine, Cannellino di Frascati DOCG, and a dry, sparkling Spumante Frascati DOC.

It has been noticed that producers who mainly use the grape variety Malvasia del Lazio obtain wines with more body and fruit. 

Read more about the wines from Frascati DOC(G) by clicking i the top menu in the right side.