The Italian region of Lazio is mostly known for its capital (Rome); even many Italians would be hard-pressed to name wines from the region. But this is still Italy, so of course there are vineyards and wines - and have been for thousands of years. Marco Carpineti and his family farm their certified organic vineyards of indigenous Lazian varieties in the volcanic Lepini Mountains, an hour south of Rome. Their town is Cori, and this wine is made from a variety called nero buono di Cori, so as local as it gets. The wine is dark cherries with a smoky, volcanic twang and some wild herbs. Drink it with pasta all'amatriciana, or anything else that makes you long to be in Rome.
