{"id":67488,"date":"2025-09-22T20:32:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T00:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/?p=67488"},"modified":"2025-09-24T11:18:03","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T15:18:03","slug":"spergola-emilias-forgotten-white-grape-returns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/spergola-emilias-forgotten-white-grape-returns\/","title":{"rendered":"Spergola: Emilia\u2019s Forgotten White Grape Returns"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-67495 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Post-5--819x1024.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"527\" height=\"659\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Post-5--819x1024.png 819w, https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Post-5--240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Post-5--768x960.png 768w, https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Post-5-.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 527px) 100vw, 527px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>When people think of Emilia-Romagna, they picture red: Lambrusco\u2019s jewel tones in sparkling glasses, poured alongside platters of prosciutto and Parmigiano. But Casali Viticultori has another treasure up its sleeve, one that whispers of history and carries the elegance of a pearl: <strong>Spergola.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This ancient white grape has roots reaching back to the 15th century, when Bianca Cappello, Grand Duchess of Tuscany, mentioned it in her writings. For centuries it quietly flourished in the hills of Scandiano and Canossa, only to nearly vanish in the wave of modern plantings. Casali stepped in as the first major producer to revive and protect this local variety, making it their mission to give Spergola a voice again.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>A Grape With Deep Roots<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Spergola vine is tenacious. Its roots stretch deep into chalky soils, pulling up minerals that lend the wines their trademark freshness and saline edge. Add to that the swings in day-to-night temperatures on these hills, and you get grapes that ripen slowly, developing layers of flavour without losing their brightness.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Casali\u2019s vineyards capture this balance perfectly. Their Spergola wines are crisp, floral, and mineral-driven, offering a contrast to Emilia\u2019s richer, heartier reds. In many ways, Spergola is like the region\u2019s white counterpoint to Lambrusco: versatile, food-friendly, and joyfully refreshing.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s in the Glass?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Pour a glass of Casali\u2019s Spergola and you\u2019ll notice a pale straw hue, almost shimmering in the light. On the nose, it\u2019s a bouquet of white flowers, citrus zest, and a hint of green apple. Take a sip, and the wine crackles with acidity, layered with minerality and a clean, persistent finish. This isn\u2019t a heavy white meant for contemplation \u2014 it\u2019s a wine that practically begs for another glass.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Food Pairings That Shine<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>One of Spergola\u2019s greatest strengths is how easily it pairs with food. Its crisp acidity and mineral backbone make it a natural with seafood: think grilled shrimp, oysters, or a simple linguine alle vongole. But it also complements Emilia\u2019s signature dishes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Tortelli di ricotta ed erbette<\/strong> \u2013 the freshness of the wine cuts through the richness of the filling.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Parmigiano Reggiano<\/strong> \u2013 the salt crystals in the cheese echo the wine\u2019s minerality.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gnocco fritto with salumi<\/strong> \u2013 the bubbles (in its frizzante version) refresh the palate after each bite.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>For something outside the traditional, try Spergola with sushi or Thai curries. Its clean profile and lively acidity handle spice and umami beautifully.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why It Matters Today<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Reviving Spergola isn\u2019t just about saving an old grape. It\u2019s about preserving the identity of a region. In a world where global grapes like Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate shelves, wines like Spergola remind us of the unique stories tied to place. Casali\u2019s role in championing this variety ensures that Emilia-Romagna\u2019s wine landscape is as diverse as its food culture.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Spergola also resonates with modern drinkers: low in alcohol, high in freshness, and versatile at the table. It\u2019s a wine that fits seamlessly into contemporary lifestyles while staying deeply rooted in tradition.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Casali\u2019s Legacy With Spergola<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Casali Viticultori has been more than just a steward of Spergola \u2014 they\u2019ve elevated it. By investing in its cultivation and crafting wines that showcase its potential, they\u2019ve ensured this grape won\u2019t fade into obscurity again. Their work is a testament to the belief that heritage and innovation can walk hand in hand.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>So next time you think of Emilia, don\u2019t just picture red bubbles. Think of the golden shimmer of Spergola in your glass \u2014 a wine that carries centuries of history and a promise for the future.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/casalivini.it\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Discover more at Casali Viticultori.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Campaign financed according to EU Reg. N. 2021\/2115. Ministero dell\u2019Agricoltura della Sovranit\u00e0 Alimentare e delle Foreste. Wine reviews and opinions remain independent.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Please enjoy responsibly.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; When people think of Emilia-Romagna, they picture red: Lambrusco\u2019s jewel tones in sparkling glasses, poured alongside platters of prosciutto and Parmigiano. But Casali Viticultori has another treasure up its sleeve, one that whispers of history and carries the elegance of a pearl: Spergola. &nbsp; This ancient white grape has roots reaching back to the 15th century, when Bianca Cappello, Grand Duchess of Tuscany, mentioned it in her writings. For centuries it quietly flourished in the hills of Scandiano and Canossa, only to nearly vanish in the wave of modern plantings. Casali stepped in as the first major producer to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[113],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67488","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-best-wines"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67488","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67488"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67488\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67583,"href":"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67488\/revisions\/67583"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67488"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67488"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67488"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}