Adesso Cagnina Di Romagna

Adesso Cagnina Di Romagna is a sweet Italian red wine from the Cagnina di Romagna DOC, bottled at 9% ABV in a 750ml format. Produced by Le Rocche Malatestiane, a major Emilia-Romagna cooperative, this wine carries on a regional winemaking tradition dating to the 13th century.

Quick Facts: ABV: 9%  |  Origin: Rimini, Emilia-Romagna, Italy  |  Cagnina di Romagna DOC  |  Producer: Le Rocche Malatestiane

Production & Heritage

Le Rocche Malatestiane is a cooperative founded in 1994 near Rimini, comprising 990 vine-growing members who cultivate roughly 800 hectares of vineyards across the Emilia-Romagna hills. This Cagnina di Romagna DOC is made from 100% Refosco, a dark-skinned grape variety that has been used in the region's sweet red wines for centuries — historical records trace the style back to the 1200s. The lower alcohol level of 9% reflects residual sugar retained during fermentation, yielding a wine that balances sweetness with fruit-driven complexity rather than relying on high alcohol for body.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe red berries — strawberry and raspberry lead — followed by deeper notes of blackberry and a faint whiff of baking spice. The aromatic profile is generous and immediately inviting.

Taste: On entry, the wine delivers juicy black raspberry and cherry flavors with a pleasantly sweet character. The mid-palate brings cooked strawberry and blackberry, layered with a subtle spice note that prevents the sweetness from becoming one-dimensional. Medium-bodied despite the low ABV, the palate has surprising depth.

Finish: The finish is long and silky smooth, trailing off with lingering berry fruit and a gentle warmth. A soft tannic structure underneath keeps the sweetness in check as it fades.

How to Drink Adesso Cagnina

Serve slightly chilled, around 55–60°F (13–16°C), to let the berry aromatics open up while keeping the sweetness balanced. This wine drinks beautifully on its own as an aperitif or dessert companion. It also works in a Sangria Roja, where its natural sweetness reduces the need for added sugar; in a Red Wine Spritzer with sparkling water and a citrus twist to highlight its berry brightness; or in a Mulled Wine during colder months, where its spice and fruit notes harmonize with cinnamon, clove, and orange peel.

Best For

• Introducing someone who prefers sweeter wines to Italian DOC-level quality
• Pairing with a rustic Italian dessert course featuring fruit tarts or biscotti
• Casual weeknight sipping when a low-alcohol, fruit-forward glass is ideal
• Building an Emilia-Romagna tasting flight alongside Lambrusco and Sangiovese

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Adesso Cagnina taste like? Adesso Cagnina di Romagna is a pleasantly sweet red wine dominated by ripe black raspberry, cherry, and blackberry flavors with a subtle spice undertone. It has medium body, a deep garnet-purple color, and finishes long and silky smooth.

How does Adesso Cagnina compare to Bernardi "Camauro" Cagnina di Romagna? Both wines fall under the same Cagnina di Romagna DOC and are made from Refosco grapes grown in the same general region near Rimini. The Bernardi "Camauro" has historically been considered nearly identical in style, with both delivering sweet, berry-rich profiles at low alcohol, though they come from different producers.

Is Adesso Cagnina good for beginners? Yes — its approachable sweetness, generous fruit character, and low 9% ABV make it an excellent entry point for those new to Italian red wines or anyone who gravitates toward sweeter styles.

Where is Adesso Cagnina made? Adesso Cagnina di Romagna is produced by Le Rocche Malatestiane, a cooperative located in the Rimini area of Italy's Emilia-Romagna region. The vineyards sit in the hills of Romagna, a sub-region renowned for both its red and white wine production.

What foods pair well with Adesso Cagnina? Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano contrasts nicely with the wine's sweetness. Roasted chestnuts complement the spice notes. Dark chocolate torte echoes the berry and cocoa-adjacent depth. Fresh berry crostata mirrors the wine's dominant fruit profile. Spiced pork sausage, a regional Emilia-Romagna staple, pairs naturally with the wine's soft tannins and residual sugar.

What sizes does Adesso Cagnina come in? Adesso Cagnina di Romagna is available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Adesso Cagnina worth the price? Adesso Cagnina di Romagna positions as an entry-level DOC wine, delivering authentic regional character and a centuries-old winemaking tradition at an accessible price tier. For fans of sweet red wines, it represents strong value given the DOC designation and cooperative-scale production quality.

Why Adesso Cagnina?

Cagnina di Romagna is one of Italy's most historically rooted sweet red wine styles, with documented production stretching back to the 13th century — and Adesso faithfully represents that lineage. The 100% Refosco grape gives the wine a depth of color and berry intensity that lighter sweet reds struggle to match. Backed by the scale and vineyard diversity of Le Rocche Malatestiane's nearly 1,000 grower-members and 800 hectares, the wine achieves a consistency that smaller producers in the DOC cannot always guarantee. At just 9% ABV, it occupies a niche that few Italian DOC wines fill: genuinely sweet, richly fruited, and light enough to drink without commitment.