Folicello Lambruscone Pét Nat 2023

Folicello is a certified organic winery established in the early 1980s by Marco Giovannini and Antonella Fontana in Castelfranco Emilia, within the Modena province of Emilia-Romagna. What began as a personal project—producing healthy wine for family and friends—has evolved into a respected natural wine estate known for its authentic Lambrusco expressions.

The winery operates a 10-hectare estate on the plains typical of Lambrusco production, with a modern cellar designed for artisanal vinification. Marco and Antonella's approach extends beyond organic certification requirements, embracing fully natural practices in both vineyard and cellar. The estate is energy self-sufficient through solar power, uses fermentation byproducts for vine treatments, and maintains biodiversity throughout the property.

Folicello focuses exclusively on indigenous Emilia-Romagna varieties: Lambrusco Grasparossa, Malbo Gentile, and Sangiovese for reds; Pignoletto, Montuni, and Pinot Bianco for whites. All wines are vinified without sulfur dioxide at any stage, including bottling. Native yeast fermentation, no fining, and no filtration characterize every bottling—practices that predated the natural wine movement's mainstream recognition.

The Lambruscone represents Folicello's interpretation of traditional Lambrusco Grasparossa. The name references the grape's robust character, with "one" as an augmentative suffix indicating size and intensity. The blend with Malbo Gentile, a permitted variety in the Grasparossa di Castelvetro DOC, adds color depth and aromatic complexity while maintaining the signature tannic structure of Grasparossa.

Beyond wine, Folicello produces organic grape juices, jams, and operates a dedicated vinegar production facility—extensions of Marco and Antonella's philosophy that quality agriculture encompasses more than a single product.

Explore Folicello's range including the Lambrusco Pét-Nat, Rosato Pét-Nat, and Salame Rider, or browse the best-sellers collection at Primal Wine.

Emilia-Romagna stretches across northern Italy from the Adriatic Sea to the Apennine Mountains, ranking among the country's most historically significant wine regions. The area's viticultural heritage dates to the seventh century BC, when Etruscans first cultivated vines in the fertile Po Valley. Romans later transported wines along the Via Aemilia, the ancient road that gives the region its name.

The region encompasses approximately 53,000 hectares of vineyards, producing roughly equal quantities of red and white wines. Emilia-Romagna's terroir features composite soils of clay, silt, and sand, with climatic conditions moderated by the Adriatic Sea providing warm summers and temperate winters. This combination creates ideal growing conditions for the region's diverse grape varieties.

Lambrusco remains Emilia-Romagna's most recognized wine, though the name encompasses a family of related grape varieties rather than a single cultivar. The region hosts five distinct Lambrusco DOCs: Lambrusco di Sorbara, Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce, Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro, Lambrusco di Modena, and Lambrusco Reggiano. Each appellation produces wines with distinct characteristics reflecting specific terroir and grape clones.

Lambrusco Grasparossa, centered around Castelvetro di Modena, produces the most tannic and full-bodied expressions of the Lambrusco family. The deep purplish-red wines carry pronounced aromas of violets, blackberries, and fresh almonds. Traditional producers increasingly employ the Metodo Ancestrale—bottle re-fermentation with native yeasts—to create authentic, artisanal sparkling wines rather than tank-fermented commercial versions.

Beyond Lambrusco, Emilia-Romagna produces notable Sangiovese di Romagna reds and Trebbiano whites. Albana di Romagna became Italy's first white wine to receive DOCG classification in 1987.

Explore Emilia-Romagna's sparkling traditions in the Italian wine collection at Primal Wine, or discover more sparkling natural wines.