Italy has over 250 indigenous varieties of grapes, and the majority of the red grapes are made into rosé (rosato). However, Italy only produces 10% of the world’s rosés, which is probably why you don’t see them as frequently in our club. Despite a long tradition of highly rated bottlings, both Italian production and domestic consumption of rosato has been falling since 2000. Only a small amount of Italian pink wines are exported to the United States. When they can be found, they represent exceptional values, and typically offer a stark contrast in aroma and taste to the more familiar French and Californian styles.
The most well known Italian red wines come from Tuscany and Piedmont, and the main grapes within each region are Sangiovese and Nebbiolo, respectively. While Sangiovese is the most widely planted varietal in all of Italy, Nebbiolo doesn’t even crack the top 10 – so when we came across a fresh and light Nebbiolo rosé, we decided to bring it in for you to try. Even better - because who ever says “we have too much rose?” - it comes in a liter bottle. Sfera (short for “atmosfera”, or atmosphere in Italian), is a collaboration with a rotating case of certified organic winemakers from the Alps to the Mediterranean, dedicated to producing limited-run, large format bottlings. This particular selection is a partnership with the excellent Croin winery in Piedmont’s Monferrato hills.
After Sangiovese, Montepulciano is the next-most-planted variety in Italy. This dark-skinned grape loves the lengthy growing seasons of central and southern Italy and is a common variety in Abruzzo, Molise, and Marche vineyards. Montepulciano produces a deep purple wine with higher acidity and grippy tannins. Its most famous wine is Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, but it also produces Rosso Concero, Rosso Piceno, and one of this month’s rosés, Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo, from the Torre Dei Beati winery.
The name “Torre dei Beati” is drawn from a detail of a fresco dating back to the 14th century, in the S. Maria in Piano local church. In the representation of Judgement Day, the “Tower of the Blessed” (“Torre dei Beati”) is the final goal of the souls that is achieved through hard effort and many tests. The winery’s aim is to express, through extremely careful selections in the vineyard and at the winery, the best of the native grapes grown in the Loreto Aprutino area. Starting from the first production core, located on the ground floor of an old farmhouse settled in the center of the vineyard, a new cellar for the wine ageing and a new winery have since been added, allowing Torre dei Beati to use the house as a welcoming and tasting center. In 2004 they bought a new 8 hectare plot, where they are now planting new vineyards. Over time, their portfolio increases significantly with studies of the Montepulciano, the grape varietal on which their efforts are mainly focused.
Think Pink!
Carrie Upson-General Manager
|
Torre Dei Beati Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo |
|
|
Region/Country of Origin: Loreto Aprutino, Abruzzo, Italy |
About the Winery: Torre dei Beati started its family-run winemaking activity in 1999, when they decided to start manually cultivating their vineyard planted in 1972 by father Rocco. They firmly trust that high quality wine has to be natural and that to separate the two issues is really impossible. For this reason they immediately converted the vineyard to organic farming. Their first bottle dates back to 2000. About the Winemaking: The grapes, carefully selected in 20 kilos cases, are immediately brought to the winery, located close to the old farmhouse in the middle of the vineyard. There they are selected again on a sorting table to choose only the best. This process is applied to all of the grapes used in their wines, for the purpose of best expressing the potential of each wine according to its category. At the winery, the most advanced technology is applied to traditional winemaking with respect for the genuineness of the organic grapes. Cold pre-maceration, light pressing of the grapes before destemming. Fermentation at 15 to 16 degrees Celsius/ 59 to 61 degrees Fahrenheit. Maturation: In stainless steel tanks. Tasting Notes: Brilliant cherry color, enriched with intense violet reflections and a sense of balanced consistency. Bouquet: Fresh and persistent aromas of strawberries, pomegranates and cherries; embellished with elegant floral scents. Taste: Characterized by an optimal equilibrium of softness, tied to a supportive alcoholic component and a lively persistence of mineral acidity. Stimulating finish. These characteristics give Cerasuolo a particular pleasantness and flexibility with different dishes. |
|
Winemaker: Fausto Albanesi |
|
|
Price: $25.99 btl / $270 case |
|
|
Suggested food pairing: Antipasti, first courses, soups, legumes and grains, poultry and fish. Serve at 55-59 degrees. |
|
|
Sfera Litro Rosato |
|
|
Region/Country of Origin: Monferrato Astigiano, Piedmont, Italy |
About the Winery: From the Alps to the Mediterranean, SFERA is a collaboration with small certified-organic farmers to bottle Liters in limited runs. All the wines are made: - WITH organic certification- WITH a producer written in label- WITH only a minimum of added SO2 (from 20 to 40 mg/L)- WITHOUT selected yeasts- WITHOUT clarification or filtering. About the Winemaking: 24 hours on the skins, softpress and then the free run juice ferments for 20 days in stainless steel tanks. Élevage for 4 months in stainless steel and only one racking before bottling. Native yeasts with no fining or filtering Tasting Notes: This Rosato is refreshing and bright, with notes of pomegranate and cranberry, and a deeper rose hue. A rosé that is acid driven, dry, fruit forward, and has a low tannic grip. A super easy drinking, glou-glou style wine. |
|
Winemaker: Cristiano Garello, Federico, Marcello, & Corrado Russo |
|
|
Price: $16.99 bottle/$183.49 |
|
|
Suggested Food Pairing: Charcuterie, pasta dishes, risotto, ham. |
|
Find similar articles
abruzzocerasuoloitalymontepulcianonebbiolopiedmontrosérosé clubrosé of the month
