Cavalchina Chiaretto Bardolino Rosé '22

Cavalchina is located in Custoza, a district of Sommacampagna, near Lake Garda, in the province of Verona. The estate (Cavalchina is also the name of the district in which the estate is located) was established in 1948, and the cellar was built later, with part of it used as a distillery of grape marc until 1967. In 1962 Cavalchina was the first winery to call the white wine of this area (a blend of Fernanda, Trebbiano and Garganega grapes) “Custoza” and to sell it in Rome and in Milan, the most important markets of the time. The family single-handedly created the Custoza appellation in the 1970s, after 10 years of labeling their wines as Custoza. Only the grape varieties that are most suited for the area are grown, yields are kept low, and only the best clusters go into the wine that is bottled. Modern technology is used in the cellar, but tradition is also respected.

Lake Garda and the surrounding hills were cut by receding glaciers after the ice age, and the resulting morainic soils are excellent for the cultivation of grapes. It was the Hapsburgs who ruled this area prior to the unification of Italy that classified it as top-notch land for vineyards. Today, brothers Franco and Luciano are at the helm of their grandfather’s estate.

The Bardolino rosé is a blend of 60% Corvina, 35% Rondinella, and 5% Molinara. The grapes are harvested about a week earlier than for the straight Bardolino to preserve freshness. Vinification includes skin-contact overnight before fermentation, and then all the varieties are all fermented together in stainless steel. The wine is aged on its lees until bottling in February.