Lambrusco and Malvasia
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Parma's table runs on two wines. Malvasia is the white of the Colli di Parma, the hills south of the city: aromatic, usually made from Malvasia di Candia aromatica, often lightly sparkling. Lambrusco is the frothy red poured with prosciutto and torta fritta. Neither is a wine to age; both are wines to drink with lunch.
They are also cheap. On Trattoria Ai Due Platani's spring 2026 list, the house Lambrusco and the house Malvasia each cost €12 a bottle. A winery tasting in the hills starts at €20.
At a glance
- Malvasia
- White, aromatic, often lightly sparkling, from Malvasia di Candia aromatica grapes grown in the Parma hills.
- Lambrusco
- Red, frothy, usually dry, the wine of the salumi board. Parma lists often use Lambrusco Maestri grapes.
- In a trattoria
- Ai Due Platani, spring 2026 wine list: house Lambrusco €12, house Malvasia €12 a bottle; named Lambruschi €16–€35.
- At a winery
- Monte delle Vigne, Ozzano Taro: guided tour with three glasses €20; food or Parmigiano pairings €30; tour with light lunch €45.
- Wine Museum
- Rocca Sanvitale, Sala Baganza: €5; weekends and holidays 10 a.m.–1 p.m. and 2–6 p.m., March 1 to December 8.
In this guide
Malvasia: the hill wine
Malvasia has deep roots here. The Wine Museum notes that the humanist Francesco Maria Grapaldo listed Malvasia among Parma's grapes in the Renaissance, and that Garibaldi, staying at Maiatico from April 27 to 29, 1861, wrote that there was "no more delicious aroma" than Malvasia di Maiatico and took vines to Caprera. The Consorzio del Vino dei Colli di Parma was founded in 1977 and has more than fifty members, according to the museum.
On a list you will see it dry (secco), sparkling (frizzante) or sweet (dolce or amabile). If in doubt, ask for "secco".
Lambrusco: the table red
Lambrusco is the red that foams in the glass. The museum traces the name to the wild "labrusca" vine. Ai Due Platani's list is a good map of the styles:
| Wine (Ai Due Platani, spring 2026) | Grape | Bottle |
|---|---|---|
| House Lambrusco | Lambrusco, Bonarda and Barbera | €12 |
| House Malvasia | Malvasia di Candia aromatica | €12 |
| "Marcello", "Otello" | Lambrusco Maestri | €16 |
| "Rimosso", "Vigna del Cristo" | Lambrusco di Sorbara | €18 |
| Rosso Colli di Parma 2022 | Local red blend | €20 |
Lambrusco is a family of grapes, not one: the list above names Maestri and Sorbara, and prices climb with age and producer. In the Bassa near the Po you will also meet Fortana, a light sparkling red that the Wine Museum's chronology links to 15th-century Zibello.
By the glass in town
We did not find a Parma bar that publishes its by-the-glass prices online, so we give no figure here. The historic wine bar Enoteca Fontana and Tabarro, both on Strada Farini, are the places to taste several local wines side by side; see those pages and the evening aperitivo walk.
Producers to visit
Monte delle Vigne at Ozzano Taro, an organic winery since 1983 about 21 km (13 miles) and 26 minutes' drive from Piazza Garibaldi, publishes its tasting prices: a guided tour with three glasses for €20, a food pairing or a Parmigiano pairing for €30, a tour with light lunch for €45, and a €45 combination with the Montecoppe dairy nearby. Details are on our Colli di Parma wine tasting page.
The Wine Museum in the cellars of the Rocca Sanvitale at Sala Baganza is one of the Food Museums: €5, weekends and holidays from March 1 to December 8.
Tickets and tours you can book
Winery Visit on Parma Hills & Wine Tasting with Food Platter
No transport: the listing puts it about 30 minutes from Parma. Max 10. Under-18s get soft drinks.
Rating as shown on GetYourGuide
Exclusive Wine Tasting Experience at Palazzo Caraffini
You drive there (free parking at the estate). Start any time from 12 to 7 p.m. Adults only. 16 reviews.
Rating as shown on Viator
Balsamic Vinegar, Wine Tasting & Tour near Parma & Reggio
You drive there yourself (about 25 minutes from Parma, per the listing). This is Reggio Emilia's DOP, not Modena's. 15 reviews.
Rating as shown on GetYourGuide
Booking through these links supports this site at no cost to you. Prices move by date, so we do not print them here; the official prices we checked are in the page above.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lambrusco sweet?
It can be, but the Lambrusco poured with Parma salumi is usually dry and frothy. Ask for 'secco'.
What does a bottle of Lambrusco cost in a Parma trattoria?
€12 for the house Lambrusco at Trattoria Ai Due Platani (spring 2026 list), up to €35 for older named bottles.
What is Malvasia di Parma?
An aromatic white from the Colli di Parma, usually from Malvasia di Candia aromatica grapes, made dry, sparkling or sweet.
Where can I taste Colli di Parma wine?
Monte delle Vigne at Ozzano Taro offers a guided tour with three glasses for €20, and the Wine Museum at Sala Baganza is open weekends from March to early December.
Further reading
Official sources
- Trattoria Ai Due Platani - wine list (PDF) – House Lambrusco and Malvasia €12; Lambrusco Maestri €16; Sorbara €18; Rosso Colli di Parma 2022 €20; grape varieties; checked September 29, 2026
- Musei del Cibo - Museo del Vino, history (official) – Grapaldo and Malvasia; Garibaldi at Maiatico April 27-29, 1861; labrusca; Consorzio del Vino dei Colli di Parma 1977, over fifty members
- Musei del Cibo - Museo del Vino, chronology (official) – Fortana in the Po lowlands at Zibello
- Musei del Cibo - Museo del Vino, hours and tickets (official) – Rocca Sanvitale, Sala Baganza; €5; Mar 1-Dec 8, weekends and holidays 10-13, 14-18
- Monte delle Vigne - wine experiences (winery site) – Tour + 3 glasses €20; gastronomic tasting €30; Parmigiano pairing €30; tour + light lunch €45; Montecoppe combination €45; checked September 29, 2026
- Monte delle Vigne - homepage (winery site) – Organic winery in the Parma hills since 1983; Ozzano Taro
