Selvagrossa "Ica" Marche Rosato '22

The Marche is one of Italy’s few still-under-the-radar yet great regions for eating and drinking. And the wines of Selvagrossa are a prime example of how wonderful the region’s wines can be, with a unique touch of passion and care from the Taddei family. These wines bring immense pleasure, and, like the best Italian wines, they are fabulous partners for a range of foods on the table. Selvagrossa, located in the Pesaro foothills facing the Adriatic coast of the Marche, is a very small estate, with only five hectares of vineyards. The climate here is characterized by cool summer nights, and the area has a base terroir with lots of clay. Brothers Alberto and Alessandro Taddei inherited the estate in 2002 from their grandparents, and the first Selvagrossa wine was made that same year, from an old-vine Sangiovese vineyard originally planted in the early 1970s by Alberto and Alessandro’s father and grandfather. 

Selvagrossa’s rosato, named “Ica,” after daughter Ludovica, is made from Ciliegiolo, a grape most often seen in Tuscany. Its name is derived from the Italian word for “cherry,” which gives a big hint to the flavor profile of the wines made from this variety. This wine shows delicate floral notes alongside crunchy and sour cherries, with a savory touch. The combination of brininess, acidity, and texture reminds us of the best Muscadet, and similar to the great wines of that region, this one will continue to improve with time in bottle. While pleasing and complete enough to drink on its own, this rosato would be fabulous with grilled shrimp, perhaps paired with a watermelon radish salad to complement the wine’s spicy freshness. 

One of our all-time favorites!