Frascati Superiore

Made from the same grape blend as Frascati DOC but with stricter production rules. Riserva requires 12 months aging. Fuller and more complex than basic Frascati, with peach, almond, and mineral notes.

Frascati Superiore's history begins in the Frascati zone of Lazio, where winemaking has been practiced for centuries in the Castelli Romani hills. The region's unique terroir—volcanic soils, Mediterranean climate, and hilly terrain—creates wines with distinctive crispness and mineral character. The appellation received formal recognition in 1966 as DOC, then elevation to DOCG in 2011 for the Superiore designation, codifying the production zone in the Frascati area and quality standards. Frascati Superiore's distinctive character comes from the region's unique terroir—volcanic soils and hilly terrain—which creates wines with crisp, mineral character. The wine's international reputation grew in the 2000s-2010s, when it became recognized as the highest quality Frascati, celebrated for its crispness and terroir expression. Today, Frascati Superiore represents the pinnacle of Frascati production, with the wine's crisp, mineral character making it perfect for refined cuisine.

Frascati Superiore production follows DOCG regulations. The wine must contain minimum 50% Malvasia di Candia and/or Malvasia del Lazio, with up to 50% Trebbiano Toscano and/or Trebbiano Giallo. Harvest typically occurs in late September to early October, when grapes have achieved optimal ripeness while maintaining acidity. The grapes are harvested by hand, then gently pressed before transfer to temperature-controlled fermentation vessels. Fermentation occurs at low temperatures (14-16°C) to preserve aromatics, with producers using stainless steel or neutral oak. The wine must age minimum 3 months before release, with some producers aging longer for complexity. The wine must achieve minimum 12% alcohol and pass quality controls. The wine's crisp, mineral character comes from the region's unique terroir—volcanic soils and hilly terrain—which creates wines with distinctive elegance and character.

Frascati Superiore represents Lazio's winemaking tradition, a wine that demonstrates the region's capacity for producing crisp, mineral whites. In Lazio homes and restaurants, Frascati Superiore flows at refined meals, its crisp, mineral character making it perfect for elegant cuisine. For Lazio residents, Frascati Superiore represents the region's unique terroir, a wine that honors Frascati tradition while expressing the Castelli Romani hills' distinctive character.