Rome: One of the World's Leading Tourist Cities
During the Roman Empire, it was the "center of the world." In the Middle Ages, with the Vatican, the headquarters of Roman Catholicism, it became the "center of faith," and now it is the capital of the Italian Republic. The richness of Rome's history and culture, known as the "Eternal City," is unparalleled, with an estimated 30% of the world's art and cultural heritage located here.
Currently, the region holds a significant position, ranking second only to Lombardy in GDP, with most of its economy centered on the tertiary sector.
Like other central Italian regions, Lazio is nestled between the Apennine Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, with its main wine-growing areas spread across the rolling hills in between.
The volcanic hillsides surrounding Rome, known as Castelli Romani, are sunny and well-suited for viticulture. With a winemaking tradition dating back to ancient Rome and blessed with favorable terroir, it's unfortunate that the region doesn't produce many distinctive, high-quality wines. The reason often cited is that the high consumption of wine by residents and tourists alike reduces the incentive for local producers to strive for greater innovation and quality.
Lazio, home of "Est! Est!! Est!!!?"
In Montefiascone, south of Lake Bolsena, DOC Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone is produced, one of the most famous white wines of Central Italy, alongside Orvieto and Frascati.
The wine is famous for a medieval legend: a German bishop's servant, Martino, was sent ahead to find good wine and mark taverns with "Est" if they served excellent wine. When he arrived in Montefiascone, the wines were so delicious that he wrote "Est!" all over the walls of every tavern in the village.
The wine is primarily made from Procanico and Malvasia del Lazio grapes, and like many Central Italian wines, it is a relatively simple white wine with low acidity and pleasant fruitiness.
Cesanese is expected to be a catalyst for Lazio's wine industry in the future. Grown in the limestone hills at altitudes of 350-700m at the foot of the Apennine Mountains, Cesanese grapes produce fresh, spicy red wines with aromas of red fruit and pepper. There are three denominations: DOCG Cesanese del Piglio, DOC Cesanese di Olevano Romano, and DOC Cesanese di Affile.
Local grape growers are producing wines with distinct personalities. However, perhaps due to a lack of marketing, despite the excellent quality of the wine itself, its reputation has not grown, and it is not yet widely distributed.
Globally Loved Home-Style Roman Cuisine
Roman cuisine is characterized by its rustic, home-style dishes and distinct flavors.
It is a cuisine reminiscent of Southern Italy, using plenty of olive oil, garlic, and chili peppers. It is also heavily influenced by shepherd's cuisine, frequently incorporating salty Pecorino Romano cheese. Meanwhile, it is also influenced by Jewish cuisine, with Carciofi alla giudia, Jewish-style artichokes fried in oil, being a well-known representative appetizer.
Suppli di riso, small fried rice balls containing prosciutto and mozzarella, are commonly eaten at pizzerias and bars.
Dried pasta, such as spaghetti, is more often consumed than fresh egg pasta. Famous dishes include Spaghetti cacio e pepe, a simple shepherd's dish of spaghetti tossed with only Pecorino Romano and black pepper; its richer version, Spaghetti alla carbonara, which adds pancetta (or guanciale) and egg; and Bucatini all’amatriciana, tossed with a sauce of guanciale, tomatoes, chili, and Pecorino cheese.
These are dishes that can be easily prepared at home, and their simplicity and clear flavors are considered quintessential Roman.
For main courses, Abbacchio alla scottadito, grilled lamb ribs from a milk-fed lamb, is eaten by hand. Coda alla vaccinara, oxtail braised in tomato sauce, and Trippa alla romana, tripe stewed in tomato sauce, are representative Roman offal dishes.
Ricotta cheese is also frequently consumed, and Torta di ricotta, a tart made with it, is a beloved classic dessert.
Source/Citation/References:
"Italian Wine Manual for Professionals: Italian Wine 2018-2021 Edition" Published by Wine Kingdom Inc. Supervisor: Isao Miyajima. Cooperation: Nichiou Shokai Co., Ltd.
