The story of Roman winemaking spans more than eight centuries of history and a geographic range from southern Scotland to the middle reaches of the Nile. The story is fascinating because it is interwoven with, and gives a clear picture of Roman life. In fact, the link goes back to Bacchus, the son of Jupiter and Semele.

Bacchus represented the intoxicating power of wine as well as its social and beneficial values. Bacchus was also a promoter of civilization, law and peace-making.

Lazio, the region incorporating Rome, is intrinsically linked to white wine, especially to Frascati and Marino and the other golden-hued bianchi (white wines) of the Castelli Romani. However, although white wine accounts for an overwhelming share of the region's production, certain of its red wines seem more convincing to connoisseurs.

Besides Frascati and Marino there are well-known but worthy neighbours such as Colli Albani, Colli Lanuvini, Castelli Romani, Velletri and Montecompatri Colonna.

Lazio's DOC red wines vary in composition. For example, Aprilia in the reclaimed stretches of the once Pontine Marshes, turns out considerable quantities of Merlot and Sangiovese wines. In addition, the red wines of Cerveteri, Cori and Velletri are based on Montepulciano and Sangiovese. The native Cesanese makes richly flavoured dry and sweet reds in the three DOC zones in the Prenestina and Ciociaria hills southeast of Rome. Aleatico makes a Port type of dessert wine on the northern shores of Lake Bolsena at Gradoli. Cabernet and Merlot are the stars of a number of highly praised modern reds from Lazio.


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