Region: Lazio
History: Established as a DOC in 1972
Principal White Grape Varieties: Malvasia, Trebbiano
Principal Red Grape Varieties: Cesanese, Montepulciano
Styles and Wine Composition:
WHITE WINES
- Bianco (Wh, WhSw): Minimum 30% Trebbiano (Giallo, Toscano, and/or Verde); maximum 70% Malvasia Bianca di Candia and/or Malvasia del Lazio (locally Malvasia Puntinata); maximum 20% OAWG
- Superiore (Bianco)
RED WINES
- Rosso (Rd, RdSw): 10–45% Sangiovese; 30–50% Montepulciano; minimum 10% Cesanese (Comune or di Affile); maximum 30% OARG
- Riserva (Rosso)
SPARKLING WINES
- Spumante (WhSp): Minimum 30% Trebbiano; maximum 70% Malvasia; maximum 20% OAWG
Significant Production Rules:
- Spumante must undergo second fermentation in bottles (Metodo Classico)
- Minimum alcohol level: 11.0% for Bianco and Spumante; 11.5% for Superiore and Rosso; 12.5% for Riserva
- Residual sugar: Maximum 0.3 g/l (0.03%) for Spumante; maximum 4 g/l (0.4%) for Bianco secco or Rosso secco; 4–20 g/l (0.4–2.0%) for Bianco amabile or Rosso amabile; minimum 20 g/l (2.0%) for Bianco dolce
- Aging: For Spumante, minimum 12 months, including 6 months on the lees (ERD approx. October 1, V+1); for Riserva, minimum 2 years (ERD = November 1, V+2)
