Top 11 Lazian Wines

Casale Del Giglio is an Italian winery located in the Lazio region, near the town of Le Ferriere in the province of Latina. Founded in the late 1980s, the estate is known for producing high-quality wines with a focus on both traditional and innovative techniques. Casale Del Giglio cultivates a wide variety of grape varieties, including international ones like Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, as well as native Italian varieties such as Malvasia and Trebbiano. The wines are celebrated for their complexity, balance, and expression of the terroir, combining rich flavors with fresh acidity. Casale Del Giglio is recognized for its commitment to sustainability and modern viticulture, making it a standout producer in Lazio.Expand

Orvieto is the most important wine appellation for white wine in Umbria. The wines produced in the region are based on Grechetto (minimum 60%), while the blends often also include Trebbiano Toscano (locally known as Procanico) or other permitted white varieties. Although the appellation also covers sweet wines—including noble rot style Muffa Nobile and late harvest Vendemmia Tardiva—which were once flagship styles, modern production is mostly oriented towards light and approachable dry white wines. Dry styles are easy-drinking, straw-colored wines that usually have a clean and crisp character and moderate acidity. The aromas are reminiscent of white fruit, white flowers, and hazelnuts, while the best examples, mainly those from the Classico subzone, often have a mineral profile. They can also have a slightly bitter aftertaste. The appellation covers the Classico label produced from the grapes cultivated in the oldest and best locations around Orvieto and the Superiore label that has to be aged for at least four months and reach 12% ABV. Dry Orvieto wines pair well with vegetables of fish soups, seafood, pasta dishes, pizza, appetizers, and light meat dishes. They can also make an excellent aperitif. Most of the appellation is located in Umbria, with only a small part in the neighboring Lazio.Expand

This white Italian wine is produced in Rome Lazio region with Malvasia Bianca di Candia and Malvasia del Lazio as principal grape varieties. The wine is usually crisp and fresh, with typical notes of white flowers, fruit, and citrus, while it can also display subtle herbaceous aromas. Because of its good acidity and minerality, Frascati Superiore pairs with fish or poultry-based dishes, as well as seafood and fresh cheese, but it is an ideal accompaniment to light pasta dishes such as cacio e pepe, fettuccine Alfredo, or spaghetti aglio e olio. Although it is rarely aged, shorter maturation periods may help to produce more balanced wine, while the Riserva label must be matured for a minimum of twelve months.Expand

This ruby red Italian wine is almost entirely produced from local Cesano grapes (both Cesanese Comune and Cesanese d’Affile varieties). It is typically a well-balanced, medium-bodied wine that usually displays floral notes and aromas of ripe dark berries, with underlying nuances of herbs and spices. It pairs well with charcuterie, red meat, lamb, and local meat dishes such as coda alla vaccinara. It also comes as Superiore and Superiore Riserva that must be oak-aged for a minimum of 18 and 20 months, respectively. Interestingly, Cesanese del Piglio was the first wine region in Lazio that was granted full DOCG status.Expand

Cannellino di Frascati is a dessert wine that hails from the province of Roma. In 2011, the appellation was awarded the highest (DOCG) status. These intense and full-bodied wines are made with Malvasia bianca di Candia and (or) Malvasia del Lazio (Malvasia puntinata), which must make up at least 70% of the blend. Other permitted varieties include Bellone, Bombino, Greco, Trebbiano Toscano, and Trebbiano Giallo. Cannellino di Frascati are well-balanced wines with fruity and floral notes reminiscent of peaches, pineapple, apples, orange blossom, chamomile, and honey. They are sweet, but without being cloying, and have a good balance of acidity and residual sweetness. These wines are an excellent match with local dry desserts, as well as aged or blue cheese. Expand

Moscato di Terracina is a white grape variety mostly found around Terracina in Latina, Lazio. The grape was reintroduced after it had nearly gone extinct, but it is still rare. It is incredibly versatile and used for different wine styles (dry, sweet, sparkling). Before it got its DOC appellation, it was primarily a part of Lazio IGT. The wines are generally deep yellow and very aromatic. On the nose, they usually show tropical fruit and apricot notes, often with some herbal nuances. In the finish, they can have a subtle, almond-like note. Dessert wines will usually have aromas of dry fruit, with some hints of balsamic and honey. Moscato di Terracina wines pair well with seafood, while sweet styles best match pastries and cookies. Expand

Lazio wine refers to wines produced in the region of Lazio in central Italy, encompassing white, red, rosé, and sparkling wines made under DOC, DOCG, and IGT classifications and commonly based on grape varieties such as Malvasia, Trebbiano, Cesanese, Bellone, and Moscato. Viticulture in Lazio developed alongside the growth of settlements around Rome, where wine production supported urban demand from antiquity onward, shaped by volcanic soils from the Alban Hills and surrounding zones, a temperate Mediterranean climate, and long-established agricultural networks that linked rural vineyards with city markets and coastal trade routes. Wine production in Lazio has historically emphasized accessible styles suited to regular consumption, with modern practices focusing on cleaner fermentation, controlled yields, and clearer varietal expression, and winemaking typically relies on stainless steel for whites and lighter reds while reserving oak aging for more structured wines such as those based on Cesanese. Wines are served according to style, with whites and sparkling wines chilled, lighter reds slightly cooled, and fuller reds at moderate cellar temperature, and decanting is used selectively rather than routinely. A defining characteristic of Lazio wine is the influence of volcanic soils combined with proximity to the sea, which contributes to moderate alcohol levels and freshness even in warm conditions, allowing wines to remain food-oriented rather than heavy. Lazio wines are consumed primarily with meals in the region and beyond, paired with seafood, vegetable dishes, pasta with simple sauces, white meats, pork, and fresh to semi-aged cheeses, and they are also commonly enjoyed as everyday table wines, fitting naturally into casual dining settings where balance and drinkability are prioritized.Expand

Roscetto or Rossetto is a white Italian grape that hails from Lazio. This rare Italian grape is used to produce dry white wines, but it is also suitable for late-harvest styles. It is used in varietal and blends, and though it is finicky to grow and remains relatively rare, it can produce some excellent quality wines. Rossetto wines are typically intense, rich, and tannic. The aroma is reminiscent of ripe fruit, and the wines will often have subtle herbal nuances. On the palate, these wines are soft and creamy, with well-balanced acidity. Aged examples may have vanilla and honey notes. Rossetto wines are best paired with fish, vegetables, or white meat. Although it is a white grape, the rose reference in the name refers to the light pink hue the grapes sometimes attain. The grape has numerous local names, such as Greco and Greco Giallo, but it is not related to Greco from Campania and Calabria. Many consider Roscetto merely a synonym for Trebbiano Giallo, though the relationship has not yet been confirmed. Expand

Aleatico di Gradoli is an Italian appellation located in the province of Viterbo in Lazio. The region produces several wine styles—dry red wine, passito version made with semi-dried grapes, and fortified style known as liquoroso. All the wines are made from native Aleatico variety (a minimum of 95%), a semi-aromatic red grape cultivated in Lazio, Tuscany, and the island of Elba in Puglia. Fortified Aleatico di Gradoli is a dark, garnet-colored, full-bodied wine with an intense aroma reminiscent of ripe jammy fruit and sweet spices. On the palate, the wines are concentrated, soft, and harmonious, with a long-lasting finish. The standard label has to be aged for six months, while the Riserva has to be oak-aged for at least two years. They are bottled at 17.5% ABV. These wines are best served as an after-dinner drink, but they could also be paired with desserts, especially cookies, tarts, and chocolate desserts. Expand

Colli Albani is an Italian appellation located in central Lazio, on the hills just south of Rome. The wines are based on white Italian varieties Malvasia Bianca di Candia, which is locally called Malvasia Rossa, Trebbiano (di Soave, Giallo, or Toscano), and Malvasia del Lazio. The wines can vary in sweetness, and the appellation includes two additional labels, Novello (young) and Spumante (sparkling). These straw-yellow wines are fresh, fruity, and floral. The aroma is usually reminiscent of peaches, jasmine, and chamomile. The wines can vary in sweetness, and the appellation also includes the Superiore label that has a better structure and more intense aroma. Dry wines would pair well with charcuterie, meat-based appetizers, and snails. Expand

Cesanese di Affile is a young DOC appellation from Lazio (province of Rome) that produces fruity red wines from the local Cesanese di Affile variety. The grape has to make at least 90% of the blend, but most winemakers produce 100% Cesanese. The grape prefers higher altitudes, and the best locations are located on mountain slopes. These wines are fruity, spicy, and tannic. Their good structure is complemented by notes of ripe fruit with hints of licorice, spices, earthy nuances, and sometimes traces of balsamic and leather. These wines work best with local specialties. They pair well with grilled or roasted meat, pasta dishes, and stews. Expand