Chiarli Lambrusco Vecchia Modena Sorbara 2023

If you’re still thinking of Lambrusco as that syrupy, soda-adjacent stuff from the back of the pantry, let this be your wake-up call. This is Sorbara, the elegant, high-acid overachiever of the Lambrusco world. It pours a pale, shimmering violet-rose that looks more like a serious Champagne than a rustic red.

On the nose, it’s all about high-toned energy: wild strawberries, crushed rose petals, and a hit of damp earth that keeps things grounded. The palate is where the party really starts. It’s bone-dry and electric, vibrating with sour cherry pits, pomegranate, and a salty, mineral finish that makes your mouth water for the next sip.

This is the ultimate aperitivo wine. It’s what you want in your glass while you’re standing around a kitchen island inhaling Prosciutto di Parma.