LLS Portfolio Book

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.

WINES OF CENTRAL ITALY

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