Lambrusco di Sorbara

Status

Lambrusco di Sorbara became a DOC by presidential decree of 1 May 1970 and has been protected at EU level since 18 September 1973.² A standard amendment to the specification was published in the EU Official Journal on 28 March 2025.¹

Zone

The zone lies in the province of Modena. It includes the whole of Bastiglia, Bomporto, Nonantola, Ravarino and San Prospero, and parts of seven other municipalities.¹

Grapes

According to the vineyard composition quoted in the 2025 EU publication:¹

• Lambrusco di Sorbara at least 60%;
• Lambrusco Salamino at least 25% and at most 40%;
• other traditional Lambrusco varieties up to 15%.

The Salamino share is quoted from the German version of OJ C/2025/1947. An older registration file gives a different figure, so check the Italian disciplinare for the exact wording.

Types

The 2025 amendment lists five types: Rosso Spumante, Rosato Spumante, Bianco Spumante, Rosso Frizzante and Rosato Frizzante. Bianco Spumante, made from grapes vinified white, was added by that amendment.¹ See sparkling red and blanc de noirs.

Method and sweetness

Refermentation may take place in the bottle or in autoclave. For bottle-fermented wines, traditional-method wording is optional, and the German term "Flaschengärung" is allowed. Types outside the quality sparkling category may be cloudy, with lees in the bottle.¹ See traditional method, tank method and pét-nat.

Spumante may range from brut nature to dolce, and frizzante from secco to dolce; the terms follow Annex III of Regulation (EU) 2019/33.¹

Yield

The maximum grape yield is 18 t/ha.¹

The three Lambrusco DOCs compared

None of the three texts consulted sets a minimum time on lees.^1,3,4