Costaripa is a small household vineyard positioned on the southwest shore of Lake Garda within the Lombardy area of Italy. At a latest digital tasting with fourth era member Nicole Vezzola, a gaggle of journalists discovered and tasted stunning cool local weather rosé wines from this fascinating spot on the earth. Nicole Vezzola made it clear that Costaripa is “linked to terroir and appellation, not the market or tendencies. Our rosés will not be only a colour, they’re a wine.” With its location in Valtenesi on the Brescia shore, it’s simple to grasp why.
Lake Garda
The vineyard is positioned in Valtenesi on hilly, morainic soils that attain from north to south between the cities of Desenzano and Salo. The local weather is tempered by Lake Garda, creating parts of a Mediterranean local weather, though the placement is sort of near the Alps. With sunshine and breezes within the morning and night, a sub-Mediterranean microclimate exists. The realm boasts 67 totally different soils and is perfect for producing rosé wines of Groppello Gentile, a novel number of the Valtenesi area. Actually, it’s one of many oldest indigenous grapes in northern Italy. Nicole Vezzola remarked many times that terroir, local weather and indigenous grapes actually outline Costaripa.
Till the tasting, I used to be not conversant in Groppello Gentile, this historic, northern Italian pink wine that’s often blended. In response to Wine Grapes by Robinson, Harding and Vouillamoz (2012), one of many first mentions of Groppello Gentile was “within the sixteenth century within the space of Brescia and Bergamo as a superb grape whose wine was exported to Germany.” The grape is principally cultivated in Lombardy and is usually blended with Groppello di Mocasina, Sangiovese, Marzemino or Barbera. By itself, this ruby coloured wine reveals reasonable acidity, with spice, black pepper and violet notes on the taste bud. And as a rosé wine? Groppello Gentile has discovered its place and thrives at Costaripa.
Mattia Vezzola, father of Nicole, is without doubt one of the most “famend and revered names on the earth of Italian winemaking.” His father, Bruno, an acclaimed winegrower in his personal proper, inspired him to pursue winemaking as a profession. After graduating in 1972 with a level in oenology from College in Conegliano, Mattia traveled to Champagne, the place he developed his ardour for glowing wines “together with a manufacturing philosophy that emphasizes the significance of crafting extraordinarily complicated, refined, elegant and equally long-lasting wines.” Reality be informed, I discovered his ardour in every wine that I tasted.
Picture Credit score: Costaripa
With Nicole Vezzola as our information, the tasting centered on 4 of Costaripa’s rosé wines, two nonetheless and two glowing. Nicole defined that in line with her father, Mattia, the rosé is “an antidote to banality and problems of on a regular basis life.” Precisely. What I discovered in every wine was a pure juiciness and brightness reflecting the Mediterranean sunshine and delicate breezes with a nod to Alpine parts. Dry with a spherical mouthfeel, notes of fruit, acidity and minerality helped create balanced wines that had been beautiful on their very own in addition to with quite a lot of meals. Out of the blue, life turned simpler with each sip – thanks, Mattia!
Rosa Mara Valtenesi 2023, created within the Nineteen Eighties and named after Mattia’s mom and aunt, is a mix of fifty% Groppello Gentile, 30% Marzemino, 10% Sangiovese and 10% Barbera. Nicole shared that the Rosa Mara “is my favourite pair of denims” – it’s her anytime wine and I used to be tasted why. This on the spot refresher was pale pink within the glass with aromas of spice, juicy peaches, pink berries, black pepper and pomegranate resulting in flavors of a lot of the identical with delicate tastes of almond. This wine was scrumptious with pizza one night time, nevertheless it might simply complement beef tartare, spaghetti and clams, and spicy fare resembling that from India, Lebanon or Thailand.
A mix of the identical grapes however with 60% Groppello Gentile and 20% Marzemino, Molmenti Valtenese 2019 is from vines with a mean age of 45 years. Meant for growing old, Molmenti was aged in 440 litre white oak tonneaux barrels for round 24 months earlier than additional growing old in bottles for an additional 3 years. Gentle pink with pearlized flecks, I discovered intense aromas of violets, white flowers, nectarines, spice and a little bit of saffron. The complicated palate exuded construction and steadiness with vibrant acidity and contemporary citrus notes. Simply sensible with grilled swordfish below a spritz of lime, I’m already trying ahead to discovering one other bottle.
Produced within the Metodo Classico VSQ (Vino Spumante di Qualita) whereby the second fermentation is within the bottle, Mattia Vezzola Brut Rose NV, is of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir cultivated on gravelly moraine soils with limestone and clay and aged for 24-30 months after harvest. Class and class abounded with every swirl and sip. Very superb mousse after the primary pour revealed a wine that was pale pink. Wafting from the glass had been pure aromas of raspberries, pink currants and trace of citrus. The palate supplied shiny acidity and flavors that lasted from the primary to final sip. A pleasant complement to smoked salmon blinis served as an appetizer at a latest feast, our visitors loved the story behind the wine as a lot because the palate profile.
Our final indulgence, Mattia Vezzola Grande Annata (Nice Classic) Rose 2018, was a stunner. Celebrating 50 years of its manufacturing (1973-2023), the mix is 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir from vineyards at totally different features. Mattia’s purpose was to supply a wine that “combines the pace and vitality of Pinot Noir with the magnificence of Chardonnay.” Aged for 54-60 months from harvest, this complicated, important wine can be broadly lauded, simply receiving the celebrated Tre Bicchieri award from Gambero Rosso 2025. On the nostril, I found ripe pink fruit resembling strawberries and currants together with contemporary peaches. Full bodied, the balanced palate was pure with savory citrus, mild sapidity and a lingering end. I handled my husband and myself to a shocking glass (or two!) of the Grande Annata with Oysters Rockefeller one night time – perfection!
“Since 1928, our household has been working these fantastic lands and I attempt to depart to those that come the worth of respect and knowledge, that the every day rhythm of the winemaker manifests every day. Craftsmanship is an instance of how palms and coronary heart are complementary to the qualitative considering of each gesture,” Mattia Vezzola is quoted as saying. Via the years, Costaripa has centered on producing prime quality wines that improve the native territory. The household’s philosophy features a concentrate on environmental sustainability, safety of biodiversity, and looking for the broadest expression of terroir and grape varieties.
Costaripa’s rosé wines are extremely really useful by not solely me however others. For detailed details about Costaripa, please click on HERE.
Cheers! ~ Cindy
In case you’d like extra data about all issues wine and would love a finances pleasant technique to do it, buy my course, “Uncover the Necessities of Wine (and select it like a professional).” Bonus: if you happen to subscribe to my web site HERE, I’ll ship a code so that you can save $30!
The hyperlink for extra details about the course is discovered HERE. I look ahead to you becoming a member of our neighborhood.
