Here in Emilia, there is a wine called Lambrusco that reigns over all other beverages. While it is historically thought of as a farmer’s table wine, I would like to put forth a prediction that this refreshing, fizzy, chilled red wine soon gets picked up as the go-to drink in trendy wine bars all over America.

Here are my reasons:

1. soooo easy to drink

Once you pop, you can’t stop. Lambrusco is a very slutty wine that is incredibly easy to drink and refreshing at the same time.

Unfortunately the reputation of Lambrusco has been marred for years by the only company to export it en masse to America and Europe – Riunite (which is located near me, by the way).

They have been exporting for decades – my mom has memories of drinking Riunite Lambrusco when she studied at the Sorbonne in Paris in the 70’s. And according to the New York Times, “Baby boomers may remember the jingle for Riunite, a sparkling wine served chilled, that went “Riunite on ice. Riunite so nice.”” Yeesh!

The problem is that Riunite is a massive, massive vinyard that doesn’t make a great Lambrusco (this is not my opinion – it is stated fact by all locals).

So first, you have to try a REAL Lambrusco before you can judge it.

2. it’s a chilled red!

I mean, how many of those exist?

It’s not a rosé… it’s a dark, thick, purple-ish red (although you can find lighter ones as well that may be called rosé by some).

It compliments the traditional pork menu while cooling you down in the process. The sparkling fizz makes it feel fancy and keeps it light, in contrast to the heavy pasta or pork accompanying it.

In the summer time, it’s just as refreshing as a cold beer.

3. cheap as dirt

Of course, once my post here goes viral, and Lambrusco is picked up by all the cool restaurants and bars in America claiming to be Italian, the prices will go up.

🙂 right?

But for now, it’s a fairly inexpensive wine. Meaning that the entire range – from the crappy ones, all the way to the excellent ones – are under 15 euros per bottle. And you’re probably overpaying at 15€.

4. you can use it in recipes

In rural Emilia, you will often find the older generation pouring a glass of Lambrusco in their bowl of capelletti in the winter.

Then, in the summer, a glass of Lambrusco can be added to a bowl of fresh strawberries to improve the experience.

5. locals drink it out of bowls, not glasses

How fun is that?! It’s like the French drinking coffee out of big bowls. How can that NOT go trendy?

6. it’s good for your health

In addition to pork salame, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, bread, and sex, the locals here insist that Lambrusco has healing properties when you are sick. The actual phrase in Reggiano dialect is:

“Pan, parsùt, figa, e lambrùsc.”

That quote is going to have to be the subject of its own post eventually (click here), but translated to Italian that’s: “pane, prosciutto, figa, e lambrusco”… the things in life that keep you healthy. Bread, pork, p*ssy, and lambrusco wine.

I swear to you, they offer you a glass of Lambrusco wine when your nose is stuffy, they say it’s “the change of the season”, and tell you to drink up.

I love it.

RELATED ARTICLES:

• “Pan, parsùt, figa, e lambrùsc.” – Reggiano dialect phrase for the recipe to health and a long life.
• 6 reasons why Lambrusco of Emilia, Italy, will be the next trendy wine
• How to porcini like a pro.