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Lazio
The region of Lazio is so-named because the original inhabitants of the land were a group of people
who called themselves the “
Latini
.” The language spoken by these inhabitants served as the basis for
Latin (and also the name). Holding this area as its base of power, the Roman Empire spread across
most of Europe and the Mediterranean.
In 2008, Italy elevated wines made from the Cesanese grape in the Piglio region to DOCG (Cesanese
di Piglio DOCG). This is still the only DOCG for red wines in Lazio. The most famous wine to come from
this region is easily Frascati, a simple white wine made from Malvasia Bianca.
The most interesting story for wines from Lazio is that of Est!Est!!Est!!! di Montefiascone. Centuries
ago, there was a traveling bishop who sent his page ahead to scout local bars and taverns to see who
served the best wine. When the page found one such bar, he would write “Est!” on the door of the bar
so that the bishop would know to stop there. When he came to the town of Montefiascone, one bar
was serving wines that had been made locally. The page was so taken with the wines that he scribed
“Est!Est!Est!!!” on the door.
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WINES OF CENTRAL ITALY