Frascati, Barolo, Orvieto, Barbaresco, Dolcetto, Semidano ….you could almost arrange these into a beautiful poem, don’t you think?
Don’t you just think the names of Italian wines sound so lovely to the ear?
You don’t even have to know what these names mean in order to hear the rhythm in them.
Nonetheless, here are the meanings behind the names of some of these gorgeous-sounding Italian wines.
Orvieto Wine
The light and fruity white Orvieto wine is named after the Umbrian city of Orvieto in which it is produced.
The name ‘Orvieto’ is derived from the Latin word ‘Urbibentum’ or ‘Urbs Vetus’ which means ‘the Old City’, acknowledging a very rich history dating as far back as 6th century BC when it was founded by the Etruscans.
Frascati Wine
This dry or sweet fruity white wine is made from a combination of grapes and derives its name from the central region of Frascati which produces it.
‘Frascati’ is taken from the word ‘frasche’ or ‘frasca’ meaning ‘fire wood’ or ‘branch’ in reference to what the rooftops of houses were covered with back in the early Roman times.
Dolcetto Wine
Made in Piedmont from the red Dolcetto grape, ‘Dolcetto’ or ‘dolce’ means ‘little sweet one’ or ‘sweetie’.
Barbaresco Wine
This dry full-bodied red wine made from the Nebbiolo grape derives its name from the town of the same name. There are varied definitions of the word ‘Barbaresco’. Some say it means ‘the wild wood’, while others say it’s most likely derived from the word ‘Barbars’ referring to the ‘barbarians’ who loitered Italy before and after Rome fell.
The origins of the names of some of these Italian wines are arguably not as romantic as the sound of the name, but nonetheless, they reflect a rich fascinating history.