Lambrusco: The Sparkling Red Wine You’ve Never Heard Of

For more than two decades we’ve shared our passion for Italian wine with our family, friends and anyone who joins us for dinner at Carmine’s on Penn. A love of vino (wine) has been a part of Italian culture for centuries, and the Italian Peninsula is known for housing some of the finest vineyards and wineries in the world.

Some of our favorite moments are when we have the opportunity to introduce a restaurant guest to a new Italian wine. We love sharing our extensive knowledge of Italian wine with you – our friends, family and restaurant patrons.

Over the years we’ve noticed the rise in popularity of Chardonnay, Merlot and even Moscato. While these are all wonderful varieties, we’d like to spotlight a less popular but equally delicious Italian wine variety:

Lambrusco

Known to some as ‘purple wine soda’ and others as the cheap, poorly made wine from the 1970s, Lambrusco is shaking off previous conceptions and inviting wine drinkers to give it a second sip.

Lambrusco is a well-made sparkling red wine, boasting a perfect balance of sweetness and crisp acidity. We have found that a glass of Lambrusco provides a blissful escape from workday stress — particularly when enjoyed on the Carmine’s patio.

Currently, we are offering Cleto Chiarli Amabile Lambrusco by the glass. We invite restaurant patrons to savor the flavor of this Lambrusco at Carmine’s. Whether you prefer to unwind inside or enjoy a relaxing evening on our patio, we’d love to introduce to one of our favorite Italian wines this weekend.