There is in northern Italy, in the Veneto region, the wonderful Lake Garda. Its shores are a continuous chain of resorts. And one of them is the town of Bardolino. It is located on the southeast coast of about. Garda. The city of Bardolino can offer travelers a lot of interesting sights: the Romanesque churches of Saint Vito and Saint Zeno, a monastery of the twelfth century, the majestic feudal castle of Scaligers and many lovely villas of the century before last.
But gourmets rush into the city not for this. After all, Bardolino is the center of the same-name wine subregion with the status of DOC and DOCG. In addition, the city has Enoteca Museo del Vino. In this museum you can not only get acquainted with the technology of wine production, but also taste it, as well as buy yourself a couple of bottles. We suggest that you take a virtual journey through the workshops and cellars of the exposition in order to understand the intricacies of the Bardolino wine.
Region features
Lake Garda lies at the foot of the Alpine mountains. They protect the region from frosty northerly winds in the winter, and bring coolness in the summer. By the way, the province of Veneto is famous for its wines. To the east of Bardolino lies the equally famous Valpolicella subregion, and in the northeast is Val d'Adige. But the hero of our story has one indisputable advantage over his neighbors, namely the coastal location. The expanse of Lake Garda is a reflector of sunlight. Thus, the vineyards receive an additional portion of light and heat, which ensures full phenolic maturity of the berries.
In addition, the reservoir smooths out differences in day and night temperatures. A variety of soils allows us to divide the subregion into appellions. Bardolino classico wine is produced in the area of the town. On the hills surrounding the resort, the soil is more scarce. They give smaller yields, respectively, they make the best wine. Such powerful and strong drinks are labeled "Bardolino Superior", and they have the status of DOCG.
Blend
The local museum will tell you that the wines from this region were loved by Guy Julius Caesar, Emperor Mark Portius Cato the Elder, Patrician Flavius Aurelius Magnus Kassodor and the ancient poet Guy Catullus. And if these connoisseurs liked the drinks from Bardolino, produced in the ancient way, then what would they say if you tried them now? After all, not only technology has developed. People learned how to make dry wines. Bardolino, like its eastern neighbor, Valpolicella, is a blending drink. For wine take three varieties: Rondinella, Corvin and Molinara. This trio makes up valpolicella.
But the bardolino has its own characteristics. The first is a larger percentage of Rondinella due to Corvina. The second grade is responsible for the dense structure of the drink, its density and rich ruby color. It also gives the wine a cherry flavor. Rondinella brings fresh, grassy notes and light astringency to it. Molinara gives wine the aroma of spices. The second distinctive nuance, in comparison with valpolicella, is the addition of other varieties in small quantities. Most often it is Sangiovese, Barbera and Marzemino. Less commonly used are French varieties - Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Technology
In the appellation Classico (the coastal low-lying part of the subregion) they make dry red wine Bardolino. It is better not to store such drinks for a long time, but to drink them for a year or two years after bottling. The appellation Superiore raised above the surface of the lake is famous for wine, whose fortress is 12 degrees (whereas in drinks from Classico it is only 10.5). The wort is aged in oak barrels for at least 12 months before bottling it. But this wine should not be stored for more than eight years.
The region produces not only red, but also pink drinks. They are called chiarettos and are labeled DOC. When the fashion for Beaujolais Nouveau came, local houses put on the market their analogue of young wine - Bardolino Novella.
And finally, sparkling drinks - spumante and freezant. These Italian champagne wines are made from Chiaretto and Novello.
Famous brands of wine Bardolino
Now let's start tasting the drinks. The first to try is the DOC novello wine, an Italian analogue of the French Beaujolais Nouveau. Such drinks began to be produced in the Bardolino subregion since 1987. As in France, the wine is bottled until the end of the period when the crop is harvested. The drinks go on sale on November 6 next year. Interestingly, when the wine is bottled, it is intensely pink. But over time, its color changes, it becomes dark cherry and pomegranate.
Novello wines have an elegant taste with hints of wild cherries, raspberries and strawberries, as well as low tannin. Such drinks cannot be stored for a long time, they must be consumed throughout the year. Novello goes well with grilled fish, boiled white meat, risotto. Serve young wine should be cooled to + 14 ... + 15 ° C. The sparkling variation of the freezant should be brought to + 10 ... + 12 ° C. Every fall, many manufacturers from the Bardolino subregion are introduced to the market. All these drinks are very worthy.
Semi-Dry Red Wines
As mentioned above, the subregion is divided into appellations by climatic and soil characteristics. Coastal vineyards are located on fertile soils, they give abundant crops. This can reduce the gastronomic quality of the berries. Therefore, winemakers artificially lower the yield of vines. In order for drinks to have DOC status, the best berries are selected for them. However, grapes in warmer climates gain enough sugar.
For the drink, the aforementioned trio of varieties is used, which ensures the harmonization of taste and tannin. Of the semi-dry red wines of Bardolino, one should mention the very worthy Pasqua brands of the Colori d'Italia brand and Domini Veneti, Sartori Villa Molina. All of them are marked with DOC status. Their strength is slightly higher than dry drinks (12-12.5 against 10.5-11 degrees). Such wines are served uncooled. They serve as the perfect match for Italian cuisine.
Chiaretto
The Italian word Chiaretto means "bright, clean." Calling Chiaretto pink wines will not be entirely correct. The color of these drinks is rather coral, reminiscent of a shade of salmon. It is achieved by adding white grape varieties to the blend. But more often than not, manufacturers simply do not insist on the skin. Indeed, the juice of three classic varieties (Corvin, Rondinella and Molinar) is white. You can mainly find on sale pink Italian wines from Bardolino "Chiaretto DOC". They have a light fresh taste, and in the bouquet you can feel the aromas of spring flowers, roses and wisteria. They are served chilled to + 10 ... + 12 ° C to cold and hot Italian appetizers, salami and ham.
Of the stamps of this type, one can recommend Lenotti, Cantina Castelnuovo del Garda, Lamberti. Some manufacturers make Chiaretto Spumante sparkling wine. From appellions with DOCG status comes Bardolino Chiaretto Serenissima. This wine has a delicate coral color, a fresh bright bouquet with fruity notes and a delicate spicy taste of raspberries and cherries. Pink drinks can be either dry or semi-dry.
Type Classico DOC
In the classical zone, red bardolino wines are produced, which differ from valpolicella in lower density and more fresh taste. After all, with the same ingredients, their proportions vary. They have much less Corvina, responsible for the fullness and rich color of the drink. As a result, the wine has a red-ruby hue.
The classic DOC category bardolino has a mild flavor with hints of spice and wild cherries. His bouquet is filled with aromas of white flowers and morning freshness. Dry red wine from the appellation Bardolino Classico goes well with pizza, pasta, soups, risotto, veal and salami. Of the brands, you can safely recommend Frescaripa (producer of Masi), Santa Orsola, Pieve San Vito, Lenotti. These wines are affordable. They cost from 550 to 900 rubles per bottle.
The best red wine Bardolino
In Italy, getting DOCG status is quite difficult. For this, the wine really must have exceptional qualities. Nevertheless, in 2001, drinks from the appellation Bardolino Superiore were awarded this high rank. What winemakers just do not let go of, so as not to lower the bar of quality: they artificially lower the yield of the vine, manually collect the bunches, select the best berries.
The main difference between classic and classic wines is their aging. The strength of such drinks is 12 degrees. As a result, the color of the wine becomes more saturated, and the body - dense. In his bouquet spicy notes are heard. Wine is served at room temperature with spicy cheeses, game, and vegetarian dishes.
Base Bardolino
The subregion is quite extensive, and other drinks are made outside of the Classico and Superiore appellations. Some of them are called so - Bardolino wine. In the reviews, users assure that between such drinks and the classic there is no significant difference.
It is also worth trying the Valpolicella from the Bardolino region - a thicker wine with an amazing aroma. Vines of white varieties, mainly Garganegu and Trebbiano, are grown on sands and limestones within the subregion. Such wines are made from them as “Bianco di Custoza”, “Lugana”, “Soave”.