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Hello there! I'm Dr. Vinifera, or "Vinny" for short. Ask me your toughest wine questions, from the technical aspects of winemaking to the fine points of etiquette. I hope you find my answers educational and even amusing. Looking for a particular answer? Check my archive and my FAQs.

Dear Dr. Vinny,

How is Lambrusco thought of amongst serious wine people?

—Christian H., Cleveland

Dear Christian,

You may already know this, but Lambrusco is the name of a grape and of the wine made from it, and the term is also part of the names of the Italian appellations where it’s made. Lambrusco is typically a fizzy, semisweet red wine. The mix of sweet and bubbly makes it a good pairing with pizza and rich foods.

Some people write Lambrusco off as carbonated Kool-Aid, but a loyal group of producers (and drinkers) takes it more seriously. Artisanal Lambruscos are less sweet, with a refreshing carbonated froth and earthy notes to compliment the core of red and black fruit flavors and spice. For more specifics, check out our database of wine and search for “Lambrusco.” Spoiler alert: most of the recommended examples cost less than $20.

—Dr. Vinny

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