Cannellino di Frascati

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The altitude of the vineyards ranges from 70 to 500 metres above sea level, with a general aspect oriented toward the west and northwest.
• Lithoid tuffs, more or less hard, derived from the cementation of ash and lapilli, known locally as cappellacci or occhio di pesce, cover the greater part of the territory.
• Among the soil types, pozzolanas stand out, known locally as terrinelle — uncemented volcanic ashes that, in zones farther from the eruptive vents, give rise to sandy, deep, and permeable soils free of waterlogging.
• The endogenous activity of the Vulcano Laziale began approximately 600,000 years ago, with a central edifice that grew to over 2,000 metres before the collapse of the magmatic chamber.
• The climate is of a transitional Mediterranean type, with mean annual rainfall between 822 and 1,010 mm and a mean temperature between 13.7 and 15.2°C.
• The oldest craters, such as Ariccia, Pantano Secco, and Prata Porci, are covered with sediments and under cultivation, while the more recent ones have retained funnel-shaped forms occupied by lake basins such as Albano and Nemi.

• Marcus Porcius Cato, known as the Censor, himself from a family of Tusculan vine-growers, set down the norms for cultivation and winemaking in his treatise De Agricultura.
• The harvest traditionally began on the feast of San Crispino, 25 October, and often extended to the end of November with several successive passes through the vineyard.
• The grapes destined for Cannellino must be harvested late, and a partial appassimento is permitted, including when carried out in suitable indoor premises.
• On 23 May 1949, the Consorzio del Frascati was founded on the initiative of 18 producers, with the aim of protecting and promoting the authentic wine obtained from the grapes of the Tusculan vineyards.

• Cannellino di Frascati presents as a full and balanced wine, with an intense straw-yellow colour and an intense, characteristic, refined, and delicate nose.
• On the palate the wine shows a fruity and characteristic flavour, with normal acidity, barely perceptible bitterness, low astringency, and good structure.

• A climate of abundant rainfall, scarce summer precipitation, and good sunshine during September and October allows the grapes to ripen slowly and fully, contributing to the wine's organoleptic characteristics.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in Italy

Sources

• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-IT-A0678
• Official trade body site — Consorzio Tutela Denominazioni Vini Frascati