Italiano
I drink pink
Consumption of pink wines is rising throughout Italy, with those zones where it is more traditional strongly emphasizing the strength of their area while some leading brands are offering their version of rosé. Perfect wines for this season.
The rosé wine fad is in full swing also in Italy in the footsteps of France, Britain and the United States where the market share of this wine is double digit. In Cote d’Azur Bandol flows like a river, even if the price is not exactly modest.
Rosé in Italy was never that popular, except from certain areas, like Salento, Abruzzo and Garda, for example, and although these wines were excellent exceptions, they remained exceptions.
For the past few years now, also in view of the trends abroad, certain important Italian wineries have entered that market with some top-shelf rosé, what you could call Superpink wine, and here we will look at the most emblematic ones.
We begin in the north, more precisely Veneto, where Pasqua has produced Y, pronounced “Why” like the letter in the English alphabet. The wine is an unusual blend of grapes: for the most part Corvina together with some Carmenere as well as some white grapes, either Turbiana or Trebbiano di Lugana.
In Tuscany, there is Aurea Gran Rosé from Tenuta dell’Ammiraglia dei Marchesi Frescobaldi. It is based on Syrah, fermented briefly on the skins and in part in wood, with a small addition of Vermentino, another example of blending red grapes with white ones.
Further south, in Salento, Tormaresca I Marchesi Anitnori produce Furia di Calafuria, made from Negroamaro with additions of Syrah and Cabernet Franc, in line with local tradition, more or less.
There are three rosés that are very different from each other in regard to origin and blend but they share the goal of becoming authentic reference points for that type of wine in order to prove that even in Italy it is possible to produce true Superpink wines.
Pasqua Cantine e Vigneti
Trevenezie Rosato Y by 11 Minutes Rosé 2020
92/100 - € 23,00
Corvina with small additions of Carmenere and Trebbiano di Lugana. 10% of the wine finishes fermentation in new oak barrels, while 30% matures in barriques and used barrels. The wine has a clear, pink color, nicely complex aromas, with notes of cherry, currant, pomegranate and a hint of flint. The mouthfeel is taut, agile and lively with a wonderful drinkability and excellent persistence.
Frescobaldi, Tenuta Ammiraglia
Toscana Rosato Aurea Gran Rosé 2020
93/100 - € 40
A blend of 85% Syrah and 15% Vermentino for the most part matured in stainless steel for a year, with a small part of the Syrah maturing in wood. A very tenuous and bright pink color with complex and distinct aromas, notes of pink grapefruit, flint, pomegranate, cardamom and currant. The mouthfeel is taut and fresh, agile yet with a nice body. The finish has a surprising persistence.
Antinori, Tormaresca
Salento Rosato Furia di Calafuria 2020
95/100 - € 25
Negroamaro with additions of Syrah and Cabernet Franc that matures in stainless steel for around six months. An intense and bright pink color with intriguing and wrapping aromas of pink grapefruit, pomegranate and strawberry with floral hint and those of flint. The mouthfeel is full, saline, warm and composed creating a wonderful drinkability. The finish has a surprising persistence.
