The year is 1890, on the Via Emilia, the most important commercial road of the town. Remigio Medici owned three successful taverns and decided to found a winery with the aim of making the most of the family vineyards, located between the Via Emilia and the foothills of the Enza valley. Remigio’s son Ermete expanded the business and consolidated the company’s reputation, before handing over the reins to his sons Valter and Giorgio, who began to export, further expanding the brand. The long history of Medici Ermete had officially begun…
In the 70s, the United States witnessed the “Lambrusco boom”, and it is important to underline how, together with Chianti, it was among the first Italian wines to be exported.
In 1988, sales for the entire Emilian sector collapsed following an ever-increasing production offer in terms of quantity and not quality. This particular situation led to the birth of sweet Lambrusco, an industrial product sold at very low prices, which in just a few years destroyed the good name of Lambrusco.
In that same year the fourth generation of the Medici family, Alberto and Pierluigi Medici, joined the company. A little later Alessandra too came along, now managing the company hospitality. These were fundamental years for the history of Medici Ermete: the family decided to revolutionise the production method of Lambrusco! The vineyards were replanted and the yields were lowered by 35% compared to the regulations (through a pruning system called cordon spur). From this pioneering philosophy, in 1993 our “Concerto”, a CRU of Lambrusco Salamino, was born.
Today the company owns about 80 hectares of vineyards (grown entirely organically), distributed among the areas with the highest wine-making vocation in the Emilia-Romagna region, and exports to over 70 countries in the world. Now in their fifth generation, represented by Alessandro, the Medici family can boast solid experience in the vineyard as well as the cellar.
Easily reachable from Venice, Florence and Milan, Emilia-Romagna lies in the heart of northern Italy. Medici Ermete is located right in the centre of this wonderful territory: we are in Reggio Emilia, the homeland of Lambrusco! Among other things, the Tricolore, the Italian flag, was born in 1797 right here in Reggio Emilia.
The climate of the region is warm and sunny in summer, while winters are severe, with fog enveloping the plains and snow often falling on the hills.
This is an incredibly fertile land, which gives rise to excellence products known all over the world, such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Parma Ham, Culatello, Salame, Mortadella, and Traditional Balsamic Vinegar, as well as historical and famous dishes such as tortellini in broth, cappelletti, lasagne and tagliatelle alla bolognese, and of course the ever-present Lambrusco.
Lambrusco has been here, in Emilia, for such a long time that the first traces date back to antiquity. It is an indigenous grape variety, which means that it was born and developed in a specific area. Lambrusco grapes produce a sparkling and dry red or rosé wine.
But the particularities and beauty of Lambrusco in our territory do not end here. Lambrusco represents a grapes family composed of many varietals, about fifteen. Each varietal has different distinctive characteristics. Today, in the various Medici Ermete estates we cultivate Lambrusco Salamino, Lambrusco Grasparossa, Lambrusco di Sorbara, Lambrusco Marani and Ancellotta (a local variety that is not part of the Lambrusco family, but to which it is strongly linked).
