Producer

Paltrinieri

I have reviewed two wines from Paltrinieri, from the 2023 to 2024 vintages, all from Lambrusco di Sorbara. All are Sorbara. Scores range from 92 to 95, averaging 94; the highest is the 2023 Paltrinieri “Piria” Lambrusco di Sorbara (95 points).

Alberto Paltrinieri is a master of Lambrusco di Sorbara. Unlike the dark, fruity Grasparossa, Sorbara is a pale, high-acid variety that thrives in the sandy soils between the Secchia and Panaro rivers. The family winery is deeply committed to the traditions of Emilia-Romagna and makes dry sparkling wines of great precision.

Its “Radice”, refermented in the bottle by the ancestral method with native yeasts, is a cult favourite: cloudy, salmon-coloured, smelling of wild strawberries and rhubarb, and the ultimate aperitivo.

“Piria”, made by the Charmat method, balances tradition and modern precision. It offers strawberry, pomegranate, red currant, rose petals and citrus, with a delicate, persistent mousse, bright acidity and subtle minerality, and it is dry and crisp. Light in alcohol, it is a natural aperitif and a match for classic Emilian dishes such as tortellini in brodo and prosciutto di Parma. Paltrinieri’s wines are electric, razor-sharp and refreshing, and they redefine what Lambrusco can be.