Don’t Sleep On Lazio!!
Romans sometimes call their city Caput Mundi—the capital of the world in Latin. And for centuries, it was just that. Romans famously moved, traveled, and conquered lands across the mundi, but there was nowhere more Roman outside the city than the Roman countryside. It is a pity that more visitors do not travel past metropolitan Rome to see it, but it is understandable when there is so much to see and do in Rome and so little is known about its surroundings.
Rome’s winemaking past, going back to at least the Empire, is such a part of its history that to symbolize the fact, Parco Archeologico del Colosseo partnered with Cincinnato Winery to plant a small vineyard of Lazio’s native Bellone on Palatine Hill, in the same spot where Emperors Augustus, Nero, and Tiberius built their palaces and temples.
Setbacks to Lazio’s wine industry occurred during and after WWII when vineyards were destroyed, abandoned, or used for mass production. The region is slowly gaining recognition for its wine again, particularly its ancient grape varieties grown in rare microclimates that only the Romans knew about until recently.
The Castelli Romani area is about ten miles southeast of Rome. The Lazio Volcano created this area hundreds of thousands of years ago and left beautiful “crater lakes” Albano and Nemi. Southern Lazio’s volcano-to-the-sea area begins at the Castelli Romani and extends to the adjacent Latina region that hugs the coastline from Nettuno to Gaeta. Here, Lazio producers are experimenting with rare and little-used native varieties, and this, coupled with the volcano-to-sea terroir, is elevating the region to a new echelon.
Although there are excellent, larger producers here, much of the local production is limited or not distributed outside Europe. Visitors will find generational wineries, vineyards tended by grandfathers, and grandchildren learning how to run a business from the roots to the shelves. There’s a palpable energy, commitment, and sweet, cautious pride surging from volcano to sea.
CASTELLI ROMANI
The sixteen towns of the Castelli Romani are where popes and aristocrats spent their summers, and where beautiful lakes were once volcanic craters. Giovanna Trisorio of Cincinnato Winery, explained, “Southern Lazio has a diverse landscape of hills, lakes, coastline, and remnants of its volcanic past—all of which create ideal conditions for producing excellent wine.”
Jacobini, Genzano di Roma
Count Alessandro Carafa Jacobini and his wife, Countess Nina Farrell, have revived the label Jacobini after it halted production years ago. They have centuries of history to guide them on their venture, as evidenced by the family’s 17th-century Palazzo Jacobini in Genzano di Roma. Jacobini hosts tastings inside the palazzo, which gives an intimate glimpse into the life of an Italian aristocrat, complete with busts and portraits of their ancestors, including a Cardinal.
The Jacobini label was highly successful pre-WWII, but afterward, the family was forced to regroup and form a cooperative instead. Alessandro and Nina restarted production of Jacobini wine with the local variety Trebbiano Toscano (Procanico) and released two vintages: 2021 and 2022. The wines have the beautiful minerality one would expect from the terrain’s volcanic soil. Try the 2022 Jacobini Bianco.
Visit Genzano di Roma. Each June, the city of Genzano di Roma throws the festa “Infiorata” (decorated with flowers). As the name implies, the city is covered with flowers, and some streets are covered as well.
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Welcome to the capital of the world or as the Romans would say kaput Mundi this was Rome’s title for centuries and it still resonates today not just within the Majestic City walls but also in its Lush Countryside a lesser known Treasure Trove of history and charm the Roman Empire left a robust
Legacy in many areas but one that often falls under the radar is wine making this ancient tradition dates back to the time of the Emperors and is so intertwined with Rome’s history that the Parco Arch o Del coloso and cincin Winery have planted a Vineyard of lazio’s native ballone grapes on
Palatine Hill the very spot where Emperors such as Augustus Nero and Tiberius once resided the Journey of Rome’s wine industry hasn’t been smooth sailing the devastation of World War II saw Vineyards destroyed or abandoned and some turned into mass production sites but Like a Phoenix Rising From the Ashes
The region is slowly regaining its reputation as a wine producing Powerhouse particularly for its ancient grape variety I grown in rare microclimates that were once the Romans best kept secret the castelli Romani area located just 10 m southeast of Rome is a testament to this Resurgence this region birthed by the ldo volcano
Hundreds of thousands of years ago is now home to beautiful Crater Lakes Albano and Nei from here the volcanic terrain stretches all the way to the Latina region hugging the coastline from netuno to Gaeta it’s in these lands that Lazio producers are experimenting with with rare native varieties a move that
Is propelling the region to new heights while there are larger more established producers in the area many of the local wineries are generational with grandfathers and grandchildren working side by side cultivating Vineyards and crafting wines that seldom make it Beyond Europe there’s a tangible sense of excitement and pride here a testament
To the dedication and hard work of these wine producers one such place is jacobini in genzano dioma count alesandro karafa jacobini and his wife CEST Nina Ferell have breathed new life into the jacobini label a brand that was once thriving pre World War II but had
To be halted due to the war’s aftermath drawing from their family’s centuries old wine making history the couple has released two vintages 2021 and 2022 featuring The Local variety Tano Toscano also known as proano these wines particularly the 2022 jacobini Bianco are a true Testament to the Region’s
Volcanic soil imbued with a beautiful minerality the future of Rome’s wine industry is looking bright with a rich history a Resurgence in traditional methods and a new generation of passionate wine makers the region is poised for a new era of wine making Excellence so the next time you’re in
Rome Venture beyond the city walls and explore its vibrant wine regions you never know you just might discover your new favorite vintage