Lambrusco

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of sparkling red wine originating from Italy, typically characterized by its fruity flavors and slight sweetness
2. A fizzy red wine from the Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy regions of Italy, often enjoyed for its low alcohol content and fruity taste
3. An Italian wine that can be sweet or dry, known for its light, bubbly texture and served chilled for casual drinking

Etymology: The name of Lambrusco goes back to the Latin phrase "vitis labrusca," meaning "wild vine." The adjective "labruscus" is generally traced to "labrum," a lip or edge, perhaps because wild vines grew along hedges and field borders, though that explanation is uncertain. The term narrowed over time from a general word for untamed vines to the name of a cultivated grape in northern Italy, and the wine took its name from that grape. The Latin label also crossed the Atlantic. The fox grape of eastern North America was classified as "Vitis labrusca," and the Concord grape, familiar in American jams and juices, belongs to that species. The same Latin phrase has thus named a vine in Italy and a wild vine in America.