Vine-growing and Lambrusco

The vine crop is widespread over the plain and the hills. From the grape grown in the province, one of the most famous Italian wines is obtained: Lambrusco. This type of wine has a typically ruby red colour (although recently a rosé quality has been added to the range), a sparkling effervescence due to the re-fermentation process, a dry flavour and a low alcohol content of between 9,50° and 11°. Thanks to these main features this wine is appreciated even outside Italy, especially in the countries of the European Union and the United States. In this country the product has started to be appreciated since the beginning of the 1970s.
Three kinds of Lambrusco are produced in the province of Modena: Lambrusco di Sorbara, Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce, and Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro.
In order to defend the quality of this wine, since 1970 all three have carried the "Denominazione di Origine Controllata" (D.O.C.) label and recently the "Indicazione Geografica Tipica" (I.G.T.) label, according to the productive processes that are strictly controlled by the type of grape used and the processing and bottling procedures.
The "Consorzio Tutela Lambrusco di Modena" (www.tutelalambrusco.it) is in charge with the preservation of the general interests of D.O.C. and I.G.T. Lambrusco.
In the development of the sector an important role is played by the "Consorzio Marchio Storico dei Lambruschi Modenesi"  (www.lambrusco.net), a consortium of Lambrusco producers that has among its duties, the preservation of quality and the control of wines produced by its members. The companies of the Consorzio, representing about 85% of D.O.C. Lambrusco production, test their wine after bottling and judge whether or not it is suitable to carry the D.O.C. label.