Ca' de' Medici Lambrusco Scuro Reggiano Secco "Piazza San Prospero" NV

Since 1890, Ca' Medici has been making Lambrusco in Emilia-Romagna — first for Remigio Medici's three taverns along the Via Emilia, then for the world. Four generations in, the family owns 80 hectares of organic vines and produces what may be the most underrated sparkling red wine on the planet.

This bottling honors Prosper of Reggio, the bishop who led Reggio Emilia for twenty-two years and became its patron saint. It's a dry, lightly sparkling Lambrusco that drinks nothing like the sweet stuff that ruined the category in the 1980s. This is the real thing: firm tannins, high acid, sour dark cherry and wild blackberry, a persistent finish that keeps you reaching for the next glass.

The wine is made via the Charmat method after two days of skin maceration — enough to give it structure and color, not so much that it turns heavy. The result is almost alarmingly drinkable: bright red fruit, balsamic character, refreshing acidity, just the right amount of sparkle.

Pull the cork on pizza night, cold cuts and cheese, anything with tomato sauce. Or drink it as an aperitif and watch it disappear before dinner starts. The kind of wine that makes you wonder why you've been drinking Prosecco.