Lazio is most famous for being the home province of the ancient city of Rome. Grape growing has a long history here, with viticulture pre-dating the rise of the Roman Empire. In those ancient times its wines were amongst the most sort after, with regions such as Falernum being highly sort after.

As the second most populous province in Italy and with the capital only a short drive away, you would think the wines would still be as sort after. That has not been the case however with wines from Lazio largely being associated with cheap wines such as Frascati. The result is a region that has mostly been ignored by the wine world at large.

As with much of the rest of Italy, a new generation and new ideas have brought needed changed to the region. Over the last decade or two new winemakers have been emerging in Lazio with a focus on organic viticulture and natural wine making

The region sits between the Mediterranean and the Apennine Mountains that run along the spine of Italy. The region is warm with plenty of sun and cooling influences from the sea and mountains. Overall the region is quite varied however the soils are largely volcanic.

Lazio has a host of natives as well as plenty of pointless French interlopers. Malvasia Bianca and Trebbiano are two of the most common whites, being the main blend for the regions cheap whites. Other white varieties include Malvasia del Lazio (similar name, different grape) and Ottonese (which may be Bombino from Puglia).

With the reds, the most important actual native to emerge so far has been Cesanese. The lighter style of red produced by the grape has seen it emerge as one of the regions most planted varieties. The perfumed and interesting Aleatico is also seeing a revival around Lake Bolsena.