2018 Paltrinieri Radice Lambrusco di Sorbara 750 ml

Lambrusco is the best-kept secret in the world of sparkling wine, and the Paltrinieri family has been leading the charge for generations. Their 2018 Radice Lambrusco di Sorbara was ranked #18 on Wine Enthusiast’s list of top 100 wines of 2019—an incredible 34 spots higher than the great 2012 Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage.

The bone-dry 2018 boasts notes of wild strawberries, roses, and orange peel that find their counterpart in a palate so vibrant it left us positively energized. Wine Enthusiast called it “one of the best Lambruscos out there” in their 95-point review, reserving particular praise for its flavors of “pink grapefruit, crushed strawberry and tangerine alongside crisp acidity and a saline note.” At just $20 per bottle, Italian bubbly doesn’t get any better than this.

The Paltrinieri family has been a leader in Emilia-Romagna since 1926. Now under the fourth-generation leadership of Alberto and Barbara Paltrinieri, the wines are as delicious as ever. James Suckling has praised Paltrinieri’s wines as “extremely sophisticated” and “refined,” and Wine Enthusiast has called them “delicious [and] vibrant.” This kind of quality rarely comes in a bottle that costs $20!

Lambrusco is crafted throughout the Emilia-Romagna region, and few appellations are as respected as Lambrusco di Sorbara. Decanter recently praised the wines from the Lambrusco di Sorbara DOP as “ethereal” and almost Champagne-like. Over the past decade or so, these dry, deeply terroir-specific sparkling wines have become some of the best values in all of Europe, and Decanter has singled out Paltrieri as one of the most important producers. 

The Paltrinieri Radice Lambrusco di Sorbara is crafted in the metodo ancestrale, so unlike wines made in the Champagne or Charmat methods, this one is bottled during its one and only fermentation. The result of this ancient and rustic method is a bubbly of freshness and generosity—one that’s as easy to enjoy on its own, or with anything from fresh pasta and fried foods to sushi. It’s a stunning Top 20 standout that we can’t get enough of, especially for the $20 price. The secret of the new generation of top-quality Lambrusco producers is getting out, so stock up at a bargain price while you still can!