Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco di Sorbara Vecchia Modena

Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco di Sorbara Vecchia Modena is a sparkling red wine from Emilia-Romagna, Italy, bottled at 11% ABV in a standard 750ml format. This landmark bottling holds the distinction of being the first Lambrusco ever awarded Tre Bicchieri by Gambero Rosso — Italian wine's most coveted critical honor — signaling a turning point in how the world perceives this once-underestimated category.

Quick Facts: ABV: 11%  |  Origin: Emilia-Romagna, Italy  |  Varietal: 100% Lambrusco di Sorbara  |  Winery: Cleto Chiarli

Production & Heritage

Cleto Chiarli is one of Emilia-Romagna's most historically significant Lambrusco producers, earning a "Mention Honorable" prize at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris — recognition that long predates the modern Italian wine boom. The Vecchia Modena is produced from the Lambrusco di Sorbara grape, widely considered the finest and most aromatic of the Lambrusco sub-varieties, grown in the flatlands north of Modena. Rather than employing the standard Charmat method with a secondary fermentation, Cleto Chiarli uses a modified single-fermentation process: grape must is fermented directly into sparkling wine inside pressurized stainless steel tanks at lower temperatures over a longer period. This approach preserves the grape's delicate aromatics and yields a finer, more persistent mousse than conventional Charmat production.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Heady violets and fresh red berries rise immediately from the glass, followed by dried roses, wild strawberry, and a subtle thread of lavender. A light earthiness adds dimension beneath the floral top notes.

Taste: The entry is juicy and round, driven by crushed raspberry and strawberry alongside tangerine and ginger. Mid-palate, penetrating acidity and a mineral-salt tension take hold, carrying crisp red and blue fruit flavors with savory spice. The mouthfeel is light to medium-bodied, almost ethereal, with a velvety texture that belies the wine's electric energy.

Finish: A pleasantly bitter tinge emerges alongside sour cherry pit and lingering tart-berry notes. The finish is long, salivating, and vivid — leaving a resonance of mineral-tinged fruit that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Vecchia Modena

Serve well chilled, between 8–10°C (46–50°F), in a tulip glass or standard wine glass to concentrate the aromatics. This wine is exceptional on its own as an aperitivo but equally at home at the table. A Negroni Sbagliato substitutes this sparkling Lambrusco for prosecco, and the Sorbara's bitter cherry finish adds real depth. A Lambrusco Spritz — Vecchia Modena topped with soda and a grapefruit twist — makes a low-ABV warm-weather refresher that highlights the wine's minerality. For something unexpected, use it in a Kalimotxo variation, where its bright acidity and effervescence temper the sweetness of cola into something genuinely interesting.

Best For

• An aperitivo spread with Italian charcuterie and aged cheeses
• Introducing a serious wine drinker to the depth of quality Lambrusco
• Weeknight pasta dinners where you want something lively and food-friendly
• Warm-weather gatherings where rosé feels predictable

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Vecchia Modena taste like? It delivers juicy wild strawberry, crushed raspberry, and tangerine on a frame of bracing mineral acidity, finishing with a distinctive sour-cherry bitterness and savory spice. The overall impression is vibrant, dry, and refreshingly tart — far removed from sweet, mass-market Lambrusco.

How does Vecchia Modena compare to Medici Ermete Concerto? Both are benchmark dry Lambruscos, but they use different grapes: Vecchia Modena is 100% Lambrusco di Sorbara, prized for delicate floral aromatics and higher acidity, while Concerto is a single-vineyard Lambrusco Salamino, which tends toward deeper color, richer body, and darker fruit. Vecchia Modena leans ethereal and mineral where Concerto is more structured and fruit-forward.

Is Vecchia Modena good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — its aromatic complexity, fine mousse, and long, tart finish make it a rewarding standalone pour, particularly as a chilled aperitivo. The wine's Tre Bicchieri recognition from Gambero Rosso underscores its quality as a serious sipping wine.

Where is Vecchia Modena made? It is produced by Cleto Chiarli in the Modena province of Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy. The Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC zone sits on the alluvial plains between the Secchia and Panaro rivers, a terroir known for producing the most aromatic and elegant expressions of Lambrusco.

What foods pair well with Vecchia Modena? Prosciutto di Parma and mortadella are classic regional pairings, as the wine's acidity cuts through the richness of cured pork. Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano works beautifully against its mineral tension. Tortellini in brodo, margherita pizza, and even fried foods like arancini or cotoletta are all enhanced by the wine's lively effervescence and tart finish.

What sizes does Vecchia Modena come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is Vecchia Modena worth the price? Vecchia Modena positions as a premium Lambrusco — priced above everyday sparkling options but well below most serious sparkling wines from Champagne or Franciacorta. As the first Lambrusco to earn Tre Bicchieri, it represents exceptional value for an award-winning sparkling wine with genuine complexity and regional authenticity.

Why Vecchia Modena?

The Tre Bicchieri award from Gambero Rosso is not handed out for charm alone — it marks a wine that competes at the highest level of Italian production, and Vecchia Modena was the bottle that broke through for the entire Lambrusco category. The modified single-fermentation Charmat process, conducted at lower temperatures over extended time, yields an aromatic precision and mousse finesse that standard Charmat cannot replicate. The Sorbara grape itself is notoriously difficult to cultivate — prone to poor fruit set and low yields — but rewards the effort with a perfumed, mineral-driven character unlike any other Lambrusco sub-variety. This is the wine that demonstrates why Lambrusco di Sorbara deserves to be discussed alongside the world's great sparkling wine traditions.