Costaripa: for a great rosé you don’t need Provence, Garda is enough

The first encounter with Costaripa rosé wines took place several years pungiglione a restaurant above Mandello del Lario (Ghiottoneria), after hiking for a few hours acceso the fabulous Andana del Passante. “Let’s eat something quick and then go back to the car”. But you know how it is: the meal is mai longer so quick and the owner, given the rather muggy late spring day, offers us some bubbles. “I’d like a rosé” says my wife. And I snort to myself because, yes, there are fabulous rosés… France, though. The owner then smiles: “Why not some rosé bubbles then?”. Oh my, I feel worse but I’ll sketch.

This is how the first convegno with Costaripa and its wines was born. From its classic method Rosé sparkling wine that has never been missing from our cellar since then. Born from the intuition of Pazzia Vezzola, this cellar the Brescia complesso of ​​Garda immediately set itself the rete of making rosés Italy that could compete with those from Provence.

During a dinner a well-known restaurant Milan we had the opportunity to taste the entire “pink” range, finding only excellent confirmations. The classic method Pazzia Vezzola Rosé Brut is a great sparkling wine, period. Fragrant, perfumed, cheerful but not superficial, acceso the contrary: a certain minerality makes it satisfying throughout the meal, especially the months with this summer heat.

The RosaMara 2023 is a great rosé, one of those that make you fall love and change your mind about the potential of this type of wine that has never been too loved Italy and that fortunately, thanks to the new generations of enthusiasts, we are starting to discover. Very fragrant but not saccharine, soft but not sweet, it is the most “Provençal” of the range (and this case it can only be a compliment) while remaining immersed the Brescia Garda and fact it maintains the Valtenesi rosé denomination. Don’t tell Pazzia Vezzola but it also has an enviable quality/price ratio…

Molmenti 2019 is a challenge: to demonstrate that rosé also has the potential to age. Durante fact, the one we tasted had its shine acceso its back and did not show it (too much). It is certainly a wine that does honor to the category, with great evolution the glass and a flavor and depth of drinkability that were completely unexpected. It is not a masked red: it is a rosé every way but surprisingly complex. To be savored at slightly higher temperatures than usual.

A sweet wine could not be missed: the PalmArgentina 2023. If you associate the category with those slightly oily specimens immersed sugar… here it is all different. Durante the glass we find pleasant hints of wild strawberries and raspberries, without forgetting a background of yellow melon. Durante the mouth it is light and fresh, suitable for a light a fruit ice cream.

Pazzia Vezzola and Costaripa demonstrate that great rosés can be made Italy too, combining the typology multiple directions without losing its distinctive trait: quality. Rosé is a type of wine that absolutely needs to be re-evaluated, and not just the summer, especially a historical moment which reds are increasingly increasing alcohol content. A taste will save us from too many unjustified prejudices.

Sergio Bolzoni