Image Up Advertising & Design

16 | OHCC LIVING | AUGUST 2021 | Lambrusco, Italy's sparkling red wine with a kiss of sweetness, is slowly experiencing a quality revolution. No longer defined by the cola-like Riunite popularized in the 1970s, a handful of conscientious producers are lowering yields and using traditional winemaking methods to produce complex, drier styles of Lambrusco. Lambrusco gets its bubbles in one of three ways: Charmat method, metodo ancestrale, and metodo classico. Carbonation occurs when carbon dioxide, a natural byproduct of the fermentation process, is trapped in a liquid under pressure. The Charmat method (also known as the tank method) is the carbonation method used in the production of most inexpensive examples of Lambrusco, as well as prosecco. The Charmat method is a sparkling winemaking process that traps bubbles in wine via carbonation in large steel tanks. The metodo ancestrale, or ancestral method, is how higher quality examples of Lambrusco are made. In this process, the wine is bottled while it is still going through its primary alcoholic fermentation. The last method, also known as méthode Champenoise, is used for premium Lambrusco. Lambrusco made in this way is more elegant, with sharper, longer lasting bubbles, but lacks Lambrusco's characteristic rusticity. Though Lambrusco is often thought of as a sweet wine, it can be produced in either a dry or sweet style. They will be labeled to help you decipher sweetness of the wine. Wines labeled secco (dry) can have up to 15 g/L of residual sugar, but they taste dry because the sugar is balanced by acidity and bubbles. Dry Lambruscos tend to be more layered, with earthy, savory flavors in addition to fruit. Semisecco wines are off-dry, meaning they have perceptible sweetness from 12-32 g/L of residual sugar. These are the most common Lambruscos and are usually produced in a frizzante style using the Charmat method. Amabile wines are semi-sweet, with 30-50 g/L of residual sugar. This style of Lambrusco is made in bulk by large producers and is less popular than the drier styles. Dolce wines are sweet, with more than 45 g/L of residual sugar. Dolce Lambruscos are cola-like with candied red fruit flavors which are wonderful to drink with dessert. The information in this article comes from an e-learning platform called MasterClass which can be accessed at - https://www. masterclass.com. The OHCC Wine Tasting Club is open to all residents of Ocean Hills Country Club for an annual fee of just $8. Wine Tasting Club

• Cover