Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
The Principe Pallavicini winery was established by one of Italy’s oldest noble families. With over 300 years of viticultural experience, the family focuses on the development of the winemaking business in order to produce wines of impeccable quality in the magical, inimitable Lazio terroir.
Principe Pallavicini represents the largest, private estate in Frascati. Of the 208 acres of vineyards at their Colonna (Pasolina and Marmorelle) and Cerveteri holdings, 133 acres are dedicated to the cultivation of white varietals for the production of Frascati DOCG. In-depth knowledge of the land has led to identifying the best vineyards, and after careful study and experimentation conducted in the field and in the cellar, these vineyards are producing increasingly more refined and enjoyable wines with their own outstanding personality.
The team of agronomist Mauro de Angelis, winemaker Carlo Ferrini and resident winemaker Carlo Roveda controls every aspect of production, from cultivation to bottling. Great efforts are taken to maintain the rich character of each varietal. Careful selection, chilled transportation and tailored vinification techniques ensure that the final wines have the bright, nuanced personality of the varietals that went into them.
Known as the ancient homeland of the Latins, today there is a vigorus wine industry beyond the city limits of modern, bustling Rome. The Cesanese grape, full of red berry, spice and rose, is responsible for Lazio’s only true local reds. Lazio’s most famous white wine, called Frascati, is based on the local Malvasia del Lazio and Trebbiano Toscana. A sweet version, called Cannellino di Frascati, is also made.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.