Emilia-Romagna

The hyphen in the regional name joins two wine landscapes. Around Modena and Reggio Emilia, different Lambrusco grapes make sparkling reds and rosés. Farther east, Sangiovese and Albana are important in Romagna, while the hills near Bologna and Piacenza have their own white and red-wine traditions.

Lambrusco is neither one grape nor automatically sweet. A Sorbara can be pale and brisk, while Grasparossa points towards a different expression; sweetness is a separate label question. For a simple regional tasting, compare a dry Lambrusco with a Romagna Sangiovese, then add an Albana to see how far the styles extend.