Medici Ermete Concerto Lambrusco Reggiano 2013
- W&S
Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
For over a century, Medici Ermete has been producing an exquisite range of Lambrusco. Remigio Medici founded the winery in the late nineteenth century, with the aim of making the best possible wines from the family vineyards, located between the Via Emilia and the first of the hills in the Enza valley. Remigio's son Ermete expanded the business before handing over the reins to his sons Valter and Giorgio, who carried on the work of their father and grandfather.
Today the company owns 60 hectares of land spread out among the finest wine-growing areas in Emilia-Romagna and is focused on producing Lambrusco of exceptional quality and freshness by using estate grown at low yields and employing meticulous and skillful winemaking. Medici Ermete is considered to be one of the premier producers of Lambrusco and was recognized for taking Lambrusco to new heights with a Tre Bicchieri award for their top bottling- the single vineyard Concerto.
Italian Wine
Named “Oenotria” by the ancient Greeks for its abundance of grapevines, Italy has always had a culture virtually inextricable from red, white and sparkling wines. Wine grapes grow in every region throughout Italy—a long and narrow boot-shaped peninsula extending into the Mediterranean.
Italian Wine Regions
Naturally, most Italian wine regions enjoy a Mediterranean climate and a notable coastline, if not coastline on all borders, as is the case with the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. The Alps in the northern Italian wine regions of Valle d'Aosta, Lombardy and Alto Adige create favorable conditions for cool-climate grape varieties. The Apennine Mountains, extending from Liguria in the north to Calabria in the south, affect climate, grape variety and harvest periods throughout. Considering the variable terrain and conditions, it is still safe to say that most high quality viticulture in Italy takes place on picturesque hillsides.
Italian Grape Varieties
Italy boasts more indigenous grape varieties than any other country—between 500 and 800, depending on whom you ask—and most Italian wine production relies upon these native grapes. In some Italian wine regions, international varieties have worked their way in, but are declining in popularity, especially as younger growers take interest in reviving local varieties. Most important are Sangiovese, reaching its greatest potential in Tuscany, as well as Nebbiolo, the prized grape of Piedmont, producing single varietal, age-worthy Piedmontese wines. Other important varieties include Corvina, Montepulciano, Barbera, Nero d’Avola and of course the white wines, Trebbiano, Verdicchio and Garganega. The list goes on.
Made in a handful of wine regions across the globe, red sparkling wine ranges from delicately sweet to bone dry. While styles vary by region, red sparkling wine production methods are often the decision of the winemaker. For serving, cool red sparkling wine down to about 40F to 50F.