Donna Lucilla Roma Bianco
Pairs with: A classic, creamy plate of authentic Roman Spaghetti alla Carbonara, crisp Carciofi alla Giudia (Jewish-style fried artichokes), fresh seafood risotto, pan-seared sea bass with lemon and garden herbs, or a simple platter of fresh goat cheese and young Pecorino Romano.
Good for: Tasting a hidden gem from the volcanic hills right outside Rome, pairing effortlessly with rich or lightly spiced dishes, or upgrading your crisp white wine rotation with a soulful, highly mineral alternative to Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.
Grape: A traditional Roman blend of Malvasia Puntinata (Malvasia del Lazio) and Bombino Bianco.
I am from: Roma DOC, Castelli Romani, Lazio, Italy.
The Story: Named in honor of the Roman empress Lucilla—the fiercely independent daughter of Marcus Aurelius—the Donna Lucilla label pays a brilliant homage to the ancient history of the Eternal City. While millions of tourists flock to Rome for the ancient monuments, wine lovers look slightly to the south, where the dramatically sloping, volcanic hillsides of the Castelli Romani have grown world-class vines since antiquity. The Roma DOC is a relatively new, highly ambitious appellation designed to elevate the region's historic white blends into the modern spotlight.
To craft this lively Bianco, the winemaking team sources fruit from prized vineyard plots around the ancient village of Monte Porzio Catone. The secret is in the blend: they pair Malvasia Puntinata (a noble, highly aromatic local clone that delivers lush stone fruit and floral tones) with Bombino Bianco (a crisp variety prized for injecting energy, structural bite, and clean acidity). To let the distinct volcanic terroir do the talking, the grapes are fermented and settled entirely in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. Completely bypassing oak, this approach preserves an ultra-pure, unadulterated, and mouthwatering snapshot of the Roman countryside.
Why You'll Love Me: It is bright, shapely, and wonderfully sapid—a texturally beautiful Italian white that marries an aromatic, floral introduction with an unexpectedly crisp, salty mineral crunch. In the glass, it pours a brilliant, pale straw-yellow with a faint, clean greenish hue around the outskirts. The nose is highly expressive, instantly greeting you with an intense bouquet of green apples, juicy Bartlett pears, and lime zest, beautifully layered with delicate hints of wild white flowers and a subtle, flinty undertone of wet stones. On the palate, it strikes with a smooth, medium-bodied fleshiness that briefly blankets the tongue with subtle tropical and stone fruit flavors. However, it stays exceptionally light on its feet; a brisk line of natural acidity instantly cuts through the fruit, while a refreshing wave of savory salinity (sapidità) drives the wine into a long, beautifully dry, and fruit-driven finish.
