The Ultimate Guide to Lambrusco Wine: Everything You Need to Know + Best Lambrusco Recipes and Pairings

Lambrusco is a unique sparkling wine that tends to get the shaft in favor of Champagne, Prosecco, or even Cava, but it’s time for this delicious and oh-so-sippable beverage to get its moment in the sun! Today I’m sharing everything you need to know about Lambrusco, my favorite ways to drink it (plus, a new Lambrusco Sangria recipe!), and the best food pairings. 

Get ready to become a fellow Lambrusco lover – you’ll never turn back! 

What is Lambrusco?

To put it simply, Lambrusco is a sparkling red wine made with – you guessed it – red grapes! This wine originated in Northern Italy and dates all the way back to the Roman and Etruscan periods. 

Fun Fact: It’s believed that the Etruscans were the civilization that taught the Romans the alphabet but they were ultimately conquered by the larger and more powerful Roman regime. None of their literature or specific history survives today, but we do know that they made and enjoyed lots of Lambrusco!

This special wine, which is named after the red grape variety of the same name, comes in many varieties that range from sweet to dry. The five most commonly enjoyed types are lambrusco maestri, marani, montericco, salamino, and sorbara, and most are made with a blend of different grapes. And while the drier to semi-sweet versions are considered a “better” wine by experts, I recommend you try a few different kinds of Lambrusco to find your personal favorite. 

What does Lambrusco taste like?  

Freakin’ delicious! But in all seriousness, it’s a fruity wine that has notes of strawberry, raspberry, cherry, and sometimes even watermelon. It has a bright acidity from the addition of citrus which all culminates in a delightfully juicy flavor, and an incredibly sippable wine!

This is such a versatile wine (especially since it fluctuates in levels of sweetness) that you can enjoy it with any meal from brunch to dinner, or as an aperitif.  

The Best Kind of Lambrusco

The best kind of this wine is the kind you enjoy the most, because honestly – when it comes to Lambrusco, there’s something for everyone. However, the dry to semi-sweet wines are the ones typically most favored.

When you go to the store, look for secco (crisp and dry) or semi-secco (off-dry) for the “best” quality, and amabile (semi-sweet) for a sweeter wine. If you want to go full-on dessert-level sweet, look for dolce. 

How to Serve 

You’d think that because Lambrusco is made from red grapes you’d serve it in a red wine glass, but no! It’s best to serve it in a white wine glass, chilled. Make sure to invite some friends over to finish off the bottle with you because it’s best served fresh. 

You can also use it in a variety of cocktails which adds to this drink’s versatility. I’ll share some of my favorites below, including my new Lambrusco Sangria recipe. 

The Most Delicious Lambrusco Cocktail Recipes

While it’s delicious all on its own, I think Lambrusco is even more fun when it’s mixed into a cocktail. Here are some of my favorites for you to try!

Lambrusco Spritz

This Lambrusco Spritz is a feast in a glass! The bitterness of amaro and the bittersweet bubbly flavors of Lambrusco are complex enough, but add the orange juice and it’ll be like fireworks on your tongue! The citrus lifts the wine’s flavors until they’re soaring! Add some sparkling water to level everything out, and then garnish with juicy orange slices and salty olives. 

Lambrusco Pomegranate Spritz

This Lambrusco Pomegranate Spritz is made with delicious Italian wine instead of prosecco to give it an added layer of depth and flavor! This cocktail is bursting with fruity goodness and a hint of bitter Aperol to balance things out. 

Lambrusco Sangria

This sparkling Lambrusco Sangria is fruity and bright enough for the summer, but deep and layered enough for the fall and winter. You’re going to love how versatile and pleasant this endlessly sippable Italian sangria is! 

Lambrusco Mimosa

Add a layer of extra fruity flavor to your mimosa this weekend! Fill your glass with a hefty pour of Lambrusco red wine and then add a bit of orange juice for a punch of citrus. Make sure both beverages are chilled for the best taste and experience! 

Best Food Pairings

You can enjoy nearly anything with this special wine, but ultimately it depends on what variety you’re drinking. Here are some tips and suggestions!

• Generally, Lambrusco is great with salty foods, fatty meats, and oily fish. 
• Try a cheese plate featuring salty parmesan and fruit.
• Burrata caprese or peach burrata salad would be great pairings because of their fruity, cheesy, and acidic flavors. 
• Try air fryer lemon pepper salmon for the oiliness of the fish andthe burst of citrus from the lemon. 
• Lambrusco also pairs well with creamier dishes like pasta carbonara!
• Beef Bourguignon is a heavier meal that will pair well with this layered sparkling wine. 
• If you’re enjoying this beverage for brunch, make a stone fruit galette! 

I think you’re going to love trying this hidden gem of a wine! If you try some Lambrusco or our new sangria recipe, be sure to tag me on Pinterest and Instagram and let me know what you think.

I seriously love seeing what you guys are making and sharing your creations with the College Housewife community!