Platrinieri 'Solco' Lambrusco dell'Emilia

Most people think they know Lambrusco. They remember that sweet, fizzy, vaguely grapey stuff. This is not that. This is the bottle that will make you forget that ever existed.

Alberto Paltrinieri's family has been doing this since 1926, and his Solco (which means "furrow," a nod to the land itself) is his masterclass in pure, uncomplicated joy. It’s the Lambrusco he designed specifically to be cracked open with friends.

This is a frizzante (lightly fizzy, not a full-on spritz bomb) red made from Lambrusco Salamino. It’s a vibrant violet-crimson in the glass, and it smells like a basket of just-washed red berries—juicy, fresh, and ever-so-slightly floral. The palate is where the magic is: it’s refreshing, full of life, and has just a kiss of sweetness (17g/l) that doesn’t cloy, but instead makes the red fruit pop against a backdrop of bright acidity. At 11% alcohol, it’s the definition of just delicious.

Enjoy with a spread of salty meats and cheeses, pepperoni pizza, or the profound satisfaction of converting a Lambrusco skeptic.