Celebrate Summer With Two Italian Rosé Wines, Valtènesi And Chiaretto

In Italy, “Garda” and “lake” are two words that sound like a caress to the ears of many people, mostly from Germany, the Netherlands, and North European countries. The lake of Garda is the biggest in Italy, in the country’s north. It covers three regions: Veneto, Lombardy, and Trentino. This land is blessed with 3,000 hours of sunshine a year and refreshing morning and evening breezes; no wonder that for many Italians and foreign visitors alike, it is an overall synonym for summer holidays. Good food, excellent wines, amazing landscapes, and a mild climate all year. Thus, if you want to celebrate International Rosé Day (27 June) while dreaming about your next journey to Italy, choosing a rosé wine produced in this region could be a good start.

The Aware Tasting Of Valtènesi Rosé

The western shore of the Garda Lake belongs to Lombardy and is also known as the Riviera del Garda Classico. Valtènesi, which refers to the central and mostly hilly area, is a sub-area of it. Here, people produce red and rosé wines with Groppello grape variety, which is almost exclusive to this countryside. The vineyards are cultivated on over 60 different types of soils of glacial origin, each of which is unique in terms of biodiversity. This gives the wines produced in the Valténesi denomination its peculiar character of full flavor and aromatic complexity. Although wine has been present in this region for many centuries, pink wine only came onto the scene in 1896 in Moniga village. Perhaps in memory of that event, every year in late spring, the wine event ‘Valtènesi in Rosa’ is organized in the charming medieval castle of Moniga. This festival is a significant exhibition that features over 40 wineries displaying over 100 rosé wines in a noteworthy “aware tasting” manner. You can taste any wine you like, but only once. A choice designed to enhance each sip and promote a responsible approach to discovering our territory, as claimed by the organizers of the event.

The “Rosè Revolution” Of Chiaretto Di Bardolino

On the opposite shore of the lake, the Venetian denomination Bardolino DOC extends on the morainic hills of the hinterland. The pink version of the red Bardolino is Chiaretto di Bardolino (also called Bardolino Chiaretto), made with the same blend of grapes of Bardolino (Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, sometimes even Molinara). The grapes are vinified with a brief maceration on the skins to extract its characteristic color and aromas. For years, this rosè wine was considered mostly a drink of the warm season, but recently it has gained more and more popularity among consumers. Today, it is bought and drunk even in the cold season. Indeed, “Chiaretto is Italy’s best-selling rosé with geographical mention,” says Fabio Dei Micheli, president of Consortium Bardolino and Chiaretto Wines. Probably, the reason for the success is partly due to the color. In 2014 the Consortium launched the “Rosé Revolution” to enhance this wine by putting some order, among other things, in the hodgepodge of pink shades of the Chiaretto wines. From then on, the prevailing tint is the so-called lychee color, more or less intense.

Are You A Valtènesi Rosé Or A Chiaretto Person?

Despite they share some features such as the production region, or the winemaking process, Chiaretto di Bardolino and Valtènesi rosé have a pretty different sensory profile. The Valtènesi rosè can be produced with a blend of red grapes, such as Marzemino, Barbera, Sangiovese, but the most important variety is the autochthonous Groppello grape. When it is processed as a rosé it gives the wines elegant floral aromas of white flowers, wild strawberry, pink grapefruit, and a touch of white pepper. Groppello’s rosé wine from this denomination has a great structure and minerality that makes it fresh, silky, and savory in taste. As some of the best Valtènesi rosés undergo partial barrel fermentation and extended lees aging, the wines display more complexity and even a gentle honeyed or spicy nuance.

By contrast, the Chiaretto is characterized by an immediate freshness, with floral and red berry notes, and a crisp, easy-drinking profile. The color in the glass is a delicate but luminous pale pink, with reflections reminiscent of rose petals or light salmon. The taste is both floral and fresh, with hints of roses, wildflowers, and small red fruits. At times, the wine may also reveal hints of citrus and field herbs. On the palate, Chiaretto di Bardolino offers a soft body balanced by a lively acidity; the taste is harmonious with good aromatic persistence. Its moderate alcohol content (around 12%) makes it highly drinkable and versatile at the table. To sum up, Valténesi rosé and Chiaretto di Bardolino are two different expressions of Lake Garda’s area. With its Groppello backbone, Valténesi rosè can boast a silkier and multi-faceted texture with refined savory notes. However, if you are just seeking a flavorful wine for convivial moments, with a fresh and floral-fruity elegance, Chiaretto di Bardolino can be your go-to wine. To raise a glass in the summer the following wines are all great options.

2024 Pasini San Giovanni “RosaGreen” Valtènesi DOP. When the producer Paolo Pasini made this wine with Groppello in purity for the first time was 2014; from then on, more and more producers followed his example. This is an organic (“green”) wine, with a appealing delicate rosé color and flavors of pink flowers and redcurrants. The sip is long and fresh, delicate and elegant, perfect for a sushi dish or a fish soup.

2024 Costaripa “RosaMara” Valtènesi DOP. Mattia Vezzola makes this rosè with a blend of Groppello (60%), Barbera, Marzemino, and Sangiovese shows a charming bright pink with faint pearl hues. On the nose, you can recognize ample flavors of violets, sweet white flowers of gooseberry, citrus, pomegranate, small red fruits, spices, and saffron. In the mouth it is fresh, complex, savory, with a long and clean persistence.

2023 Le Fraghe “Rodòn” Chiaretto di Bardolino DOP. Matilde Poggi’s pink wine finds in a blend of Corvina and Rondinella grapes the key of the success. The color is a lively cherry pink with violet hues. The bouquet has notes of rosehips, wild strawberries, currants, and even spices. On the palate, it is fruity and savory, with a lovely freshness and harmony, and a great drinkability.

2024 Benazzoli “Tecla” Chiaretto di Bardolino DOP. This rosé recalls the character of the sisters Claudia and Giulia Benazzoli: lively and friendly. It has notes of pink roses, fruity hints of wild strawberries, red cherries, and juicy hints of Sicilian orange. The flavor is fresh and silky, and the peppery hint creates a dynamic sip. A pleasant experience like a late afternoon poolside in a summer evening.

Elisabetta Tosi