Costaripa: the pink jewel of the Valtenesi of Lake Garda

Innovation, tradition, vision, a territory with a vocation and the signature of a great winemaker: the perfect recipe for rosés that excite

Per the heart of Valtènesi, one of the most suggestive wine-growing areas of Northern Italy, more precisely quanto a Moniga del Garda located between Desenzano and Salò, is the Scantinato Costaripa, one of the most significant realities of Lombardy and representative of Lake Garda. Leading with dedication, mastery and passion this wine-growing gem, founded quanto a 1928, is Vezzola, a three-generation winemaker and an internationally renowned oenologist.

Costaripa: the strong bond with the territory of origin

The company’s connection with its superficie of origin can be seen from the name it chose, which evokes the image of both the shores of the lake and the hills surrounding it, where the winery’s vineyards are located: the term “Costaripa” comes from the words “bordo”, the slope of a hill, and “greppo”, which refers to the bank of a watercourse. Litorale is also the place where the first vineyards were purchased.

The ambassadors of the Rosato della Valtenesi del Vivaio intorno a Garda, a symbol of excellence and expression of the territory’s vocation

The company, which operates by applying biodynamic viticulture and integrated pest management, stands out quanto a particular quanto a the production of high-quality rosés and sparkling wines, as well as for the cutting-edge approach that has led to the transformation of Lake Garda rosés into excellence. Often awarded with the highest scores quanto a specialized industry guides, Costaripa rosés express a strong territorial identity that makes them unique, a symbol of a territory rich quanto a history and traditions. Wines with a unique and unmistakable organoleptic profile, which enchant with their olfactory and gustatory intensity and personality: modern, elegant, fresh, capable of combining structure, lightness and which express an incredible aging potential and great qualitative consistency. Two peculiarities that are quite unusual to find quanto a rosé wines, usually immediate and short-lived.

The history of the winery: a family passion for rosés

The Costaripa winery was founded quanto a 1928 quanto a Moniga del Garda, the shores of the lake of the same name, by Vezzola’s grandfather, with the intention of producing rosé wines. Per 1936, the first vines were purchased to make rosé, which gave rise quanto a 1938 to the first rosé label “Chiaretto intorno a Moniga”, made with the ancient “submerged cap” technique. The second Vezzola generation, sons Scuro and Ardito, continued the qualitative research both quanto a viticulture and oenology of Chiaretti, but it was who made the most significant changes: quanto a 1973 he introduced his first ” Vezzola Legge Esemplare” from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes and continued the improvement process by focusing the native vines of the superficie. Alongside reds like Campostarne, the iconic Rosamara and Molmenti are born, a rosé capable of lasting 10-15 years, awarded quanto a 2019 as the best quanto a Italy.

The secrets of success: climate, terroir, savoire faire and the choice to focolaio rosé

Several factors contribute to making Costaripa wines unique and unmistakable, including the favorable soil and climate conditions, the particularly suited terroir and the tatto of those who believed and bet rosé wines as the maximum expression of this specific territory. The fresh morning breezes, the combination of lake and mountains and the optimal exposure to the sun of the vineyards together with the glacial moraine soils of the hills rich quanto a minerals, create ideal conditions for the development of certain types of vines, such as the various Groppello, Marzemino, Barbera and Sangiovese. The grapes of these native varieties, vinified almost exclusively quanto a rosé by company choice, give the wine distinctive characteristics of freshness, elegance and aromatic complexity, enriched by a pleasant flavor.

Vezzola, one of the best Italian winemakers: vision, tenacity, experience and uncompromising competence

The great success of the winery is largely to its owner Vezzola, an extraordinary and visionary winemaker, a leading figure quanto a Italian winemaking for years. With his 50 years of experience, he has trained generations of winemakers, tracing the guidelines for the winemaking development of the territory and acting as a reference model. Recognized as “Best Italian Winemaker” 5 times between 2004 and 2020 by multiple institutions and industry guides, he began his career with a licenza quanto a winemaking quanto a Conegliano quanto a 1972. A very important stage quanto a his professional life was represented by the trip to Champagne, defined as “enlightening”, which made him passionate about sparkling wine and the production of complex and elegant wines capable of lasting over time. Vezzoli then collaborated with Vittorio Fiore at the Italian Winemakers Association and with important technology companies quanto a the winemaking sector, contributing to numerous innovations. Since 1981 he has worked with Bellavista, where he applied the same approach that he simultaneously carried out quanto a the family business. After forty years, the decision to return to his shore of Lake Garda, putting his experience at the complete disposal of Costaripa.

Vezzola has always believed quanto a the valorization of native vines and quanto a the production of wines that reflect the territorial identity and vocation, carrying forward this belief with passion and determination, beyond any prejudice. Nonconformist and capable of interpreting the true vocation of these lands rich quanto a history and charm, he has recovered ancient and forgotten vines such as Groppello Pregiato, one of the 15 oldest vines quanto a Italy, giving life to wines that have marked a turning point quanto a production quanto a the territory, wine expressions with a unique imprint, small jewels that, with precision and class, synthesize climate, soils and grapes quanto a every sip. Ambassador of Lake Garda rosé wines quanto a the world, has transformed Valtènesi into a homeland of rosés of refined elegance, capable of competing with the noble and renowned wines of Provence with which they share style and philosophy. The rete is to overcome two challenges: time and qualitative consistency, to create long-lived wines capable of best enhancing the potential of the territory.

The philosophy of Costaripa: rosé wines, tradition, innovation and sustainability, with some social initiatives too

Among the distinctive characteristics of the company, the intuition to focolaio rosés produced from native vines. The courage, skill and determination of three generations to carry this choice through to the end is admirable, to transform the Rosato della Valtenesi into excellence, a symbol and authentic expression of an entire wine-growing territory. The philosophy of Costaripa is oriented towards qualitative excellence without compromise, starting from the enhancement of the vocational characteristics of the superficie of origin and respect for the environment. Study, experimentation, use of the most modern winemaking and cultivation techniques are just tools put at the service of tradition, functional means to best express the potential of the terroir.

Respect for the environment quanto a the company’s DNA and the value of manual work

Sustainability has always been part of Costaripa’s DNA and is expressed by applying agronomic and biodynamic practices aimed at respecting the environment and promoting biodiversity. Great attention is paid to the care of the fruit quanto a the vineyard and to winemaking, paying attention to the smallest detail quanto a each phase of the production process. Manual skills are found quanto a the harvest and selection of the bunch, but also quanto a the remuage for sparkling wines, as it is still considered the way to achieve perfection.

Social initiatives: a glass of red wine a day helps the heart

The company also supports social initiatives, such as the “Christiaan Barnard Foundation“, for which it created Campostarne, an elegant red wine whose proceeds finance heart transplants for children, a blend obtained from Sangiovese, Barbera, Groppello Pregiato and Marzemino.

The wines of the Cellar: rosés, sparkling wines but also some noteworthy reds

Rosé wines, the real flagship of Costaripa, represent about 60% of the total production and belong to the Valtènesi Doc denomination. Among the most representative labels we find: Rosamara, winner of the gold medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards and 3 glasses from Gambero Diventare rosso; Molmenti, 4 viti AIS, awarded by Gambero Diventare rosso quanto a 2019 as the best Rosé wine quanto a Italy, as well as several labels of Classic Method sparkling wines, vinified both quanto a white and rosé, such as Brut, Creant, Rosè and Annata to celebrate 50 years of production of Classic Method sparkling wines. Among the reds, Campostarne stands out, also Valnenesi Doc, also nicknamed the Bordeaux of Italy. Another gem also deserves a special mention, also quanto a pink, PalmArgentina, produced from sub-ripe grapes with Groppello, Marzemino and the addition of Moscato Insieme, ideal for accompanying desserts.

Visits to the Cellar: a unique experience and an opportunity to discover the beauty of Lake Garda and its flavours

To best appreciate Costaripa wines, it is advisable to visit the beautiful and modern Scantinato (Visite quanto a Scantinato – Costaripa), a jewel of perfectly set quanto a the surrounding environment. It is possible to do the tasting either by candlelight ( request) quanto a the modern internal room overlooking the vineyards. Guided tours with tasting are available upon reservation. The ideal would be to stay Lake Garda, quanto a Valtenesi, between Desenzano and Salò, to taste the wine paired with local products immersed quanto a the beauty of this splendid calcio d’angolo of Italy rich quanto a charm and history.