Wine Of The Week – Lambrusco “Nessun Dorma” – Emilio Wine



My Vintner Project Profile

The Wine
“This is not your grandparents Lambrusco! This lovely Lambrusco produced by my friend, Mattia Montanari, is dry, bubbly and beautifully complex. It goes well with everything from your normal everyday foods – hamburgers, pizza and pasta. Its from the region of Emilia Romagna that is also associated with many quintessential Italian things including prosciutto, tortellini, parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar. In addition to being a gastronomic hub, Emilia Romagna is also home to Ducati Motors, Lamborghini, Ferrari and the iconic Italian operatic tenor, Pavarotti. This Lambrusco, Nessun Dorma, is named after an aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini’s opera Turandot and is a tribute to Pavarotti. It is a wonderful wine and I invite you to give it a try.” – Michael Whidden, Brand Manager & Sales Representative at Regal Wine Imports
Tasting Notes
Clean and polished expression of Lambrusco with black cherry character and subtle notes of earth, plumb, cigar and nutmeg. Fresh acidity with tannic structure and fine, persistent bubbles.

The Winemaker
Sexy cars, soaring opera, sumptuous foods and thrilling wines…that’s why cognoscenti extol Emilia-Romagna…as well as anyone who champions the region like Mattia Montanari. Emilio is Mattia’s first project beyond his family’s successful, eponymous winery. Vineyards are at 250m average elevation with optimal S/SE exposure. Vines were planted approximately 10-15 years ago in soil of clay and sand. These wines are from select musts that Mattia identified at the family winery, musts intended to result in the most clean, complex, satisfying wine.
The project name, “Emilio” pays homage to the ancient roadway, via Emilia, which passes the region’s key cities. The name of each cuvee refers to a famous aria, honoring the operatic roots of Mattia’s hometown Modena, which no less than Luciano Pavarotti himself called home. Needless to say, the wines are thrilling with regional delicacies like Prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Modena balsamic vinegar and tortellini.
Mattia has always been proud that Emilia-Romagna is home to an impressive concentration of the world’s most exhilarating automotive companies: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Ducati…highlighting the fact that to know Italy, you must know Emilia-Romagna. And to know Emilia-Romagna, we believe you should know Emilio.
Tasting Notes & Winemaker Overview provided by Regal Wine Imports.