It’s crimson and velvety. It sparkles. It even comes from the ancestral lands of St Valentine. So why Lambrusco isn’t the official wine for couples celebrating Valentine’s Day is a bit beyond me. Having recently tried Monte delle Vigne Lambrusco 2011 during a low key and rather romantic evening out, I thought this lightly frizzante vino rosso would make a fine choice for February’s Wine of the Month.
Far too many naff versions of this wine from Emilia Romagna flooded the markets in decades past, leaving Lambrusco as the brunt of the joke for among many outside Italy. And that’s a shame. A good Lambrusco is a pleasant and easy drinker that stands well enough on its own and, when served with the right dishes, can really enhance a meal. Fairly acidic, Lambrusco is an excellent choice for pairing with oily and fatty foods like cured meats (Parma ham) and cheeses (Parmigiano-Reggiano). You can see why it never fell out of favour in its native home.
Monte delle Vigne’s 2011 is a great example of what a good Lambrusco should be. I sipped my first fojeta (small broad bowl traditionally used for drinking wine in parts of northern Italy) of it while paying a visit to Fitzrovia’s Italian restaurant with a quality cause, In Parma. Fruity but not overly sweet and offering a long lasting finish, the wine set the tone for a more than satisfactory dinner (you can read my review of In Parma here) and worked well with everything tasted throughout the evening. At £5.20 for a fojeta and £24 for a bottle, it’s definitely worth a try at this quaint and casual eatery.
Monte delle Vigne Lambrusco 2011 is my second WOTM in a row to feature a quaff suggested and served to me at a restaurant. I reckon such smart selections deserves recognition. Too many times I’ve been subjected to otherwise decent meals going astray to due someone else’s bad wine decision.
In Parma is located at 10 Charlotte Place, W1T 1SH … and if you don’t have (but still need to make) dinner plans for Valentine’s Day, this restaurant might prove a lovely option. Find out more at inparma.co.uk.
For more about Monte delle Vigne wines visit montedellevigne.it.
