With the 2014 harvest, the producers of Chiaretto embarked on the Rosé Revolution to showcase the delicate color and fruity citrus aromas of Corvina Veronese.
Their ambition, however, extended beyond this; they aimed to create a wine capable of aging gracefully and competing on par with the most renowned international terroirs for rosé wine production. To solidify this vision, in spring 2021, the production regulations officially adopted the name Chiaretto di Bardolino, firmly emphasizing the wine’s territorial identity in Verona.
Beyond Summer: Chiaretto di Bardolino’s Evolution into a Wine for All Seasons
Edition after edition, the subsequent Anteprime events unequivocally demonstrated three things: firstly, Chiaretto di Bardolino is not merely a seasonal wine to be enjoyed by Lake Garda in the summer, but an important wine suitable for extended aging and year-round consumption. Secondly, the achieved level of quality is such that Veronese rosé wines often stand up admirably against the most prestigious rosé wine regions worldwide. Thirdly, it has proven to be a versatile gastronomic wine par excellence.
For the skeptics, empirical evidence was provided during the 2023 Anteprima masterclasses by Franco Cristoforetti, president of the Consorzio di Tutela. Chiaretto underwent blind tastings against Mosel and Rioja for the 2021 vintage, and against Provence for the 2022 vintage.
The verdict was consistently positive, with Chiaretto often emerging superior, particularly in comparison to Rioja. One should not view Chiaretto as opposed, but rather as an alternative, though unquestionably capable of delivering absolute excellence.
Equally intriguing was the observation that Chiaretto designed for long aging, such as the Chiaretto di Bardolino Classico Gaudenzia Villa Cordevigo from the 2018 and 2019 vintages, as well as those with a few years of maturation, such as Chiaretto di Bardolino Poggio alle Grazie and Tenuta la Presa from the 2014, 2015, and 2016 vintages, showed sublime aging potential.
To crown these achievements, recent news celebrated the inclusion of Chiaretto di Bardolino Le Fraghe 2016 by the association Rosés de Terroirs, alongside some of France’s most prestigious rosé wine producers, in a tour of Michelin-starred restaurants. This recognition represents a significant milestone, triumphing in the most challenging arena and solidifying the completion of the Rosé Revolution.
Chiaretto di Bardolino, information on the 2022 vintage
In the production of Chiaretto di Bardolino, Andrea Vantini, technical manager of the Consorzio di Tutela del Chiaretto di Bardolino, recounts that the correct selection and management of vineyards, along with precise timing of harvest, were more crucial than ever last year.
In the 2022 season, extreme climate changes marked the period, featuring low precipitation and high temperatures. Harvest occurred approximately eight days earlier than the average of recent years. The grapes had a higher sugar content compared to 2021, while providential rains in August fortunately supported the lower total acidity compared to the previous year.
The result for Chiaretto di Bardolino is a balanced vintage, possessing excellent structure along with balanced freshness and salinity.