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Lambrusco
di Sorbara
It is made from a vine of the same name, Lambrusco di
Sorbara, which is a native variety of remote origins.
It grows in sparse, conical clusters bearing spherical
fruits, the abundance of which varies from year to year
(while the grapes retain the same size of a few millimeters).
This is due to a flowering anomaly, that can give rise
to a considerable loss of fruit. It has now been ascertained
that the phenomenon, typical of Lambrusco di Sorbara,
is caused, above all, by the sterility of the pollen.
In some years, it has been known to bring about a drop
of over 30% in the amount of grapes harvested for production.
But it is this peculiarity that makes it so outstanding,
memorable and particularly admired. It stands alone
among the range of Lambrusco wines and shares its qualified
position with other noble vines cultivated in Italy
and France (the prime example being Picolit).
As we have said, production is always limited and, in
some years, it is extremely hard to come by. But what
is lacking in quantity is more than made up for in quality,
always of the highest. To facilitate fertilization the
Sorbara vine is cultivated with a percentage of Salamino
Lambrusco, the vines growing side by side in the same
vineyard.
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Lambrusco
Salamino di Santa Croce
This wine essentially comes from the Lambrusco Salamino
grapevine. However, the production guidelines permit
Lambrusco Salamino grapes to be cultivated alongside
a small percentage of Lambrusco and Fortana vines, the
latter being locally referred to as "Uva d’Oro"
(golden grapes). Thus, we can affirm that it is from
the vine of the same name that this wine is substantially
derived.
Cylindrical or conical in shape, the cluster is rather
small, thin and compact, has an average length of 10
- 12 cm and often incorporates an off - shoot. The same
cluster bears spherical grapes of different sizes, with
a thick, robust skin of a plummy blue - black color.
The grapes contain a juicy pulp with a slightly sweet,
acid taste.
The Lambrusco Salamino vine is vigorous, ensuring a
prolific and constant yield. Its grapes ripen in early
October, having stored all the light and heat of the
summer and autumn sunshine.
Spring and summer pruning of the vines is performed
in order to reduce the load of clusters borne by each
root and guarantee that the sun’s rays reach every
part of the cluster, ensuring a complete and uniform
ripening.
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Lambrusco
Grasparossa di Castelvetro
This wine is produced from the Lambrusco Grasparossa
variety. Although not possessing great vigour, the
vine is distinguished by a special characteristic:
with the arrival of autumn, not only the leaves turn
red, but also the stalk and pedicels. The
relevant productin rules permit the Lambrusco Grasparossa
vine to be cultivated alongside a modest percentage
of Lambrusco and Fortana ("Uva d’Oro")
varieties. None the less the wine is essentially derived
from the vine of the same name. The sparse, conical-shaped
cluster is medium in length with roundish fruits.
The grapes range from plummy dark blue to blackish,
have a thick skin and contain a medium juicy, sweetish,
slightly acidulous pulp.
Due
to its lack of vigour, the Lambrusco Grasparossa vine
is best cultivated in smaller vineyards, where it
does well, even on rather poor soils, such as those
on the lower slopes of the Modenese hills.
It
bears up well to climatic and other adversities, and
matures fairly late, after waiting to capture the
very last rays of autumn sunshine (years ago, harvesting
went on well into November).
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