Latium

Wine-growing region (Ital.: Lazio) in Italy, including the capital city of Rome, the vineyard area totals 47.884 hectares. It is located on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea, with a coastline stretching for 320 kilometres. All five central regions borders on Latium. Viticulture was widespread in ancient times, with a remarkable wine culture. The region supplied both food and beverages to the capital city of the Roman Empire. The most famous wines of ancient times, such as the Caecuber and the Falernian wine, were grown in what is today the province of Latina in the south, on the border with the wine-growing region of Campania. In particular, the Roman authors Cato the Elder (234-149 BC) and Columella (1st century AD) described these wines extensively in their works. For many centuries, the Roman poets praised the wines of Latium, particularly the predecessor of Frascati. In ancient times, this region produced full-bodied, amber-coloured and spicy white wines. The papal court was located close by, with wine playing an important role there in medieval times. Pope Paul III. (1468-1549) put a ban on French wine, and has his treasurer Sante Lancerio compile an overview of all Italian wines of the time, in order to encourage these. The climate is dry and hot on the coast, and becomes increasingly cooler as one moves inland, the rainfall also increases. With the exception of the Apennine mountains themselves (with their highest peak, the 2.216 metre-high Monte Terminillo), vines are grown just about everywhere. A total of 200 different varieties are permitted, many of these are descendants of antique grape varieties. However, only around a dozen varieties have any commercial importance. Almost 90% of all wines produced are white, these often fare particularly well on the volcanic soils. The Malvasia and Trebbiano varieties, with their multitude of variants, are the main component of these wines. The most important red varieties are Sangiovese and Montepulciano. International varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are becoming increasingly important. It is worth remarking that there are quite extensive vineyard areas located within the municipal boundaries of the city of Rome (parts of four DOC zones). The 25 DOC zones are:

* Aleatico di Gradoli
* Aprilia
* Atina
* Bianco Capena
* Castelli Romani
* Cerveteri
* Cesanese del Piglio (DOCG)
* Cesanese di Affile
* Cesanese di Olevano Romano
* Circeo
* Colli Albani
* Colli della Sabina
* Colli Etruschi Viterbesi
* Colli Lanuvini
* Cori
* Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone
* Frascati
* Genazzano
* Marino
* Montecompatri-Colonna
* Orvieto
* Orvieto-Classico
* Tarquinia
* Velletri
* Vignanello
* Zagarolo