Sun, Weather, Fields and Love: the Secret to the Quest for a Great Lambrusco

Passion, love, and the desire to prove to the world that a great Lambrusco could exist convinced Raffaella and her husband Giuseppe to risk it all. They quit their jobs, moved back home, and decided to give their lifelong dream a shot, and they founded Bugno Martino Farm and Winery in their hometown in the province of Mantua, Italy.

However, they quickly realized they had a long road ahead of them and that their first task would be debunking the idea that Lambrusco could only be known as a cheap fizzy red, a reputation the varietal had gained for itself during the 70’s and 80’s. Their solution to this was to create a “different kind of Lambrusco” one that was made in the vineyard rather than in the winery. This meant not adding sugar, tannins, nor color but instead letting it develop naturally in the vineyard. It also meant putting quality at the forefront by choosing to work with lower yields and only the best grapes. A completely different approach from the pre-existing one that focused on quantity and often resulted in the cheap fizzy reds mentioned earlier.

 Raffaella jokes that you can always tell the difference between a good and a bad Lambrusco because you will be able to “feel it in your head and your stomach” and that the best way to tell if it is a good wine is simply by “if it is gone by the end of the conversation.” She also goes on to say that “when people drink wine, they are looking for a moment in which they can relax. So, our passion is to make a wine that they can drink while doing just that. We believe wine should accompany the best moments in life.”

There are many reasons why Raffaella loves her job but one of her favorites is “the satisfaction of getting to see the amazed faces in front of a glass of our Lambrusco and that person’s realization that a Lambrusco really can be good.” She also says she loves it because “it’s different every day and every year. You are at the mercy of nature and some years are easy with beautiful weather that produce great wines and other years nature acts up. You have to face all the difficulties that nature presents and do your best in the face of it all. You certainly never get bored.”

Raffaella also has some inspiring advice to offer to women who are interested in pursuing a career in wine. She says, “you have to come into this world and try and don’t be afraid.” She acknowledges that it’s still predominantly dominated by males and that they have set the precedent for “our way of looking at things” but that this is why it is so important that more woman play a part in the wine industry because “it also needs our [female] experience, way of thinking, and speaking.” Raffaella finishes by saying “come, come and make a female revolution!” 

Are you ready to try a great glass of Lambrusco? Order Raffaella and Giuseppe’s Lambrusco here in our online shop and have it shipped home!

Travel virtually to visit Giuseppe and Raffaella in their vineyard here!