Lazio or Latium in English is one of Italy’s 20 administrative regions. Burton Anderson (1990, p.189) describes it as being ‘eternally dominated by Rome, the ancient and modern capital of Italy, and Catholicism.’

Political geography: Capital city: Rome. Provinces: Rome (RM). | Frosinone (FR). | Latina (LT). | Rieti (RI). Viterbo (VT).

Terroir: Lazio’s vineyard topography comprises hillsides, plains and mountain slopes. There are two main wine-growing areas in Lazio. One is the Castelli Romani in the Colli Albani DOC (Alban Hills) south-east of Rome. The other is in Viterbo Province (aka ‘Tuscia’), whose vineyards flank the Tiber river as it flows south to the Tyrrhenian Sea. Rieti Province shares its vineyard area with Rome, in Sabina or the Sabine Hills (See Colli della Sabina DOC).

Native grapes

White: ‘High-yielding Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia Bianca di Candia ruined Lazio’s key wines, Frascati and Marino. Cannellino, the sweet white of Frascati, has also suffered lousy winemaking. High quality natives are the Malvasia del Lazio (Malvasia Puntinata) [sometimes other grapes are passed off as being from this varietal] and Bellone. Moscato di Terracina resembles Moscato Bianco but is genetically different’, says Ian D’Agata (2014). See also Passerina.

Red: Cesanese Comune: | Cesanese d’Affile. | Rosciola (r). | Serpentaria (r). | Uva Serpe (r).

White: Bombino Bianco. | Malvasia Bianca di Candia. | Moscato di Terracina. | Passerina

Other: The following varieties are under research: Maturano Bianco, Pampanaro, Capolongo, Uva Micella, Uva Molle, Lecinaro, and Tendòla, although some of these may be varieties grown elsewhere under different names (Ian D’Agata, 2014).

Wine regions

IGP: Civitella d’Agliano IGP. | Colli Cimini IGP. | Frusinate IGP. | Lazio IGP. | Passerina del Frusinate.

DOC: Aleatico di Gradoli DOC. | Aprilia DOC. | Atina DOC. | Bianco Capena DOC. | Castelli Romani DOC. | Cerveteri DOC. | Cesanese di Affile or Affile DOC. | Cesanese di Olevano Romano or Olevano Romano DOC. | Circeo DOC. | Colli Albani DOC. | Colli della Sabina DOC. | Colli Etruschi Viterbesi or Tuscia DOC. | Colli Lanuvini DOC. | Cori DOC. | Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone DOC. | Frascati DOC. | Genazzano DOC. | Marino DOC. | Montecompatri Colonna or Montecompatri or Colonna DOC. | Nettuno DOC. | Orvieto DOC (shared with Umbria). | Roma DOC. | Tarquinia DOC. | Terracina o Moscato di Terracina DOC. | Velletri DOC. | Vignanello DOC. | Zagarolo DOC.

DOCG: Cannellino di Frascati DOCG. | Cesanese del Piglio or Piglio DOCG. | Frascati Superiore DOCG.

Wineries

No certification: Casale del Giglio. 

Bibliography

Burton Anderson, The Wine Atlas of Italy (Mitchell Beazley, London, 1990).

David Gleave, The Wines of Italy (Salamander Books, London, 1989).

Dr Ian D’Agata, Native Wine Grapes of Italy (University of California Press, 2014), p42-3 (abridged).

Dr Ian d’Agata, Native Wine Grape Terroirs (University of California Press, 2019).

Nicolas Belfrage MW, Life Beyond Lambrusco (Sidgwick & Jackson, 1985). 

Nicolas Belfrage MW, From Barolo to Valpolicella—The Wines of Northern Italy (Faber & Faber, 1999).

Nicolas Belfrage MW, From Brunello to Zibibbo–The Wines of Tuscany, Central and Southern Italy (2nd edition, London, 2003).