Fragolino is a sweet Italian red wine with a unique story. It comes from the Isabella grape, which is not like other wine grapes.
The Isabella grape is from North America and was brought to Europe in the 1800s. People liked it because it was cheap, sweet, and tasted like strawberries.
The name “Fragolino” comes from the Italian word for strawberry. This fits the wine’s taste perfectly.
To make Fragolino, winemakers let the grape skins sit with the juice for a short time. This gives the wine its red color and special flavor.
But finding real Fragolino today is tough. The European Union (EU) made it against the law to sell this wine. There are a few reasons for this:
- Pest problems: The Isabella grape may have brought a bug called phylloxera to Europe. This bug hurt many grape vines in the late 1800s.
- Health worries: The grapes make more methanol when they ferment. Too much methanol can make people sick.
- Taste concerns: Some countries thought the sweet strawberry taste made their wines seem less fancy.
In the 1930s, some countries in Europe said no to growing Isabella grapes. By 1979, the whole EU said no to making wine with American grapes like Isabella.
Now, you can’t find real Fragolino made from Isabella grapes. But there are other drinks that try to copy its taste:
- SANTERO 958 FRAGOLINO: This is made from white grapes, sugar, and strawberry juice. It’s sweet and good for parties.
- Splendia Fragolino: This is a light, pink, bubbly drink. It tastes like wild strawberries and is very smooth.
- FRAGOLINO BIANCO COUNTRY: This is a white version made from different Italian grapes. It’s yellow-green and smells like strawberries.
These drinks are fun and tasty, but they’re not the same as the original Fragolino. They have less alcohol and are sweeter.
People like to drink them at any time of day, especially at parties.
The story of Fragolino shows how wines can change over time. What started as a cheap, sweet wine from a new kind of grape became a banned drink. Now, it lives on as a fun, fruity party drink.
Even though real Fragolino is hard to find, its spirit lives on in these new drinks. They keep the sweet, strawberry taste that people loved about the original wine. While they may not be the same as the old Fragolino, they still bring joy and fun to those who drink them.
