Moretto Lambrusco
by Anthony Lynch
Have a whiff of this attractively frothy, deep purple beverage: does any other wine come close to matching its vivid scent? The three-dimensional fragrance leaps from the glass, hinting at freshly pressed grapes, wild mulberries, and crushed violets.
Produced from organically farmed hillside vineyards just outside of Modena, Moretto’s Grasparossa is made for the notoriously rich cuisine of Emilia-Romagna, arguably the home of Italy’s finest meats and cheeses. The bone-dry finish features bracing acidity and chalky tannins, designed to cut through the fat of a mortadella sandwich or chunks of aged Parmigiano. You can’t go wrong pairing this sparkling rosso with virtually any dish from Emilian cuisine or a simple margherita pizza, but it also marries wonderfully with barbecue slathered in smoky sauce and carnitas seasoned with a bit of spice.
Serve it cool and plan smartly—at just 11.5% alcohol, a single bottle has been known to disappear before one’s thirst has been fully quenched.
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