Sip of the Day

September 7, 2020

Day #251 of the year.

Medici Ermete Quercioli Dolce Lambrusco

Labor Day is for barbecue, so I picked my all-time favorite wine with BBQ — Lambrusco. And when I say “BBQ,” I mean REAL BBQ, as in smoked pulled pork, ribs, brisket, etc., and Lambrusco is the ultimate pairing for smoked meats. For those doing “traditional” barbecue — meaning, hot dogs, hamburgers, and maybe grilled chicken slathered in BBQ sauce — this Lambrusco is still a perfect match. Its deep, rich berry flavor is bold enough to stand up to anything on the grill, and its lively acidity cuts through the fatty foods we like to indulge in on a holiday. Oh, and a fun fact — Lambrusco comes from the land of Emilia-Romagna in Italy, which is the same place where supercars such as Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini are built (and Ducati motorcycles as well!). Fittingly, Medici Ermete Quercioli has a sleek, racy profile.

ORIGIN

Reggio Emilia, Emilia Romagna, Italy

Grapes

Salamino Lambrusco, Marani Lambrusco

Tasting Notes

Bright ruby red with persistent bubbles, the wine shows delicate floral notes of violet leading to a luxuriously sweet, fresh, vivacious palate that is pleasantly harmonious.

Food Match

Delicious with cured pork meats such as salami or mortadella. Also an excellent pairing with fruit, dessert, and pizza.

AUTHOR:

Joe Janish

Founder of popular wine blogs Wine Dictator and Wine Weekly and host of Inside Wine Podcast, Joe's career in the wine industry spans four decades. He is a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) and holds Level 2 certification from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET).