Fogarina

The Fogarina grape owes much of its fame to the refrain of a popular folk song: “Oh how beautiful the Fogarina grape is, oh how beautiful it is to know how to harvest it.” This red grape variety played a significant role in the viticultural history of the Emilia region, particularly in the first half of the 20th century, when it was the second most widely cultivated variety in the province of Reggio Emilia, following Ancellotta.

In more recent decades, Fogarina’s cultivation has declined, gradually replaced by varieties such as Fortana and Lambrusco Maestri. Also known as Fogarina di Gualtieri - after the municipality that remains its main growing area - its exact origins are uncertain. Some believe it was discovered in a forest near Guastalla called Fogarin, possibly introduced by a flood of the Po River. Others suggest the name derives from its supposed ability to “give fire” (intensity and colour) to inferior grapes that, on their own, would produce dull wines.

The Fogarina grape has black, medium-sized, round berries with thick, leathery blue-black skins. Its bunches are medium, pyramidal, and loosely packed. The wines it produces are purplish-red in colour, with a fruity aroma and a delicate, dry, soft taste, often lightly sweet and sparkling, featuring vivid red foam.