Frascati Superiore

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The delimited geographical zone extends over approximately 8,300 hectares on the northern slopes of the Colli Albani, with vineyard altitudes ranging from 70 to 500 metres above sea level.
• The soils derive from volcanic formations of the Vulcano Laziale, whose endogenous activity began approximately 600,000 years ago, consisting of ash and lapilli deposited in layers of considerable thickness and cemented to varying degrees.
• Among the volcanic formations, the pozzolana stands out — locally called "terrinelle" — an uncemented ash that gives rise to sandy, deep, and free-draining soils with no waterlogging at either the surface or depth.
• The general aspect of the vineyards faces west and north-west, with variable slopes, under a transitional Mediterranean climate with mean annual rainfall of between 822 and 1,010 mm.
• The mean temperature of the zone ranges from 13.7 to 15.2 °C, with the mean minimum temperature of the coldest month of the year fluctuating between 3.4 and 4.0 °C.

• Marcus Porcius Cato, known as the Censor, who came from a family of vine-growers from Tusculum, set out the rules of viticulture and winemaking in his treatise De Agricultura.
• The Statutes granted to the city of Frascati by Marcantonio Colonna in 1515 established the areas to be designated as vineyard land, the methods for determining the timing of the harvest, and regulated the wine trade.
• The grape varieties suitable for the production of the wine are those traditionally cultivated in the area, including Malvasia bianca di Candia, Malvasia del Lazio, Bellone, Bombino bianco, Greco bianco, Trebbiano toscano, and Trebbiano giallo.
• The appellation, recognised as a DOC as early as 1966, attained the highest classification of DOCG by Ministerial Decree of 20 September 2009.

• The Riserva wine type shares the same sensory profile as the Superiore, with a straw-yellow colour of varying intensity and a flavour that is dry, sapid, soft, refined, and velvety.

• The climate, characterised by abundant overall rainfall and dry summers, allows the grapes to ripen slowly and fully, contributing to the organoleptic characteristics of the wine.
• The combination of soil characteristics and climatic factors leads to the production of significant quantities of aromatic precursors that enhance the typical aromas of the various grape varieties.

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-A0682
• Official trade body site — Consorzio Tutela Denominazioni Vini Frascati