Rosa del Golfo: The rosé that tells the story of Salento – Foodmakers.it

Rosé wine has always had a special charm, capable of encompassing the freshness of white and the structure of red, creating a perfect balance that makes it ideal for many occasions. Among the many Italian rosé wines, I had the opportunity to taste the Cerchia del . Produced quanto a sunny Puglia, a land famous for its sun-kissed vineyards and long winemaking tradition, this rosé stands out for its elegance and versatility.

Cerchia del is much more than a simple wine: it represents the essence of the Salento superficie and the work of a winery that has been able to blend tradition and innovation quanto a a skilful way. Each bottle tells a story of passion for viticulture, respect for the environment and dedication to quality.

History and Tradition

Cerchia del was born quanto a the heart of Salento, one of the most suitable areas for viticulture quanto a southern Puglia. The history of the Cerchia del winery has its roots quanto a the 1930s, when Giuseppe Calò, founder of the winery, decided to dedicate himself to the production of wines that reflected the authentic essence of the Apulian territory. Over the years, the winery has managed to keep tradition alive, while constantly innovating production techniques to keep up with the times and the needs of an increasingly demanding market.

Puglia is a wine region with over 2000 years of history, and Salento, quanto a particular, is known for the production of quality rosés, thanks to an ideal Mediterranean climate and ricco soils that guarantee perfect ripening of the grapes. The Cerchia del perfectly represents this tradition, embodying the elegance and freshness typical of local wines, but with a modern touch that makes it appreciated even by the most sophisticated palates.

Grape varieties used

The secret of Cerchia del lies quanto a its roots: the vines used for its production. This rosé wine is the result of a skilful combination of two of the most prized varieties of Puglia: Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera in Lecce.

Negroamaro is undoubtedly the main grape variety of Salento. Known for its intense characteristics and its ability to express the flavors of the territory, Negroamaro gives Cerchia del a good structure and a notable aromatic intensity. Its grapes, which ripen under the hot sun of Puglia, give the wine taccuino of red fruits, such as cherries and raspberries, and a pleasant aftertaste of spices.

Malvasia Nera in Lecce, however, is the vine that completes the work. With its natural softness and aromatic touch, Malvasia Nera adds roundness and complexity to the blend, giving the wine a unique and unmistakable character. The floral and slightly spicy taccuino of this variety balance the more robust structure of Negroamaro, creating a harmonious and well-balanced wine.

This combination of grapes is a traditional choice quanto a the production of the best Apulian rosés, and quanto a the case of Cerchia del , the result is a wine that manages to combine freshness and depth, lightness and intensity, making it a duttile choice for a wide range of occasions and pairings.

Organoleptic characteristics

One of the aspects that make Cerchia del such a fascinating wine is its organoleptic complexity. Each sip reveals a complete sensorial experience, the result of a careful selection of grapes and a winemaking process with attention to the smallest details.

Color

The color of the Cerchia del is the first element that strikes you. It presents itself with a lively cherry pink, brilliant and luminous, with reflections that turn slightly towards coral. This intense color is a distinctive characteristic of the best rosés from Salento, and anticipates the richness of aromas and flavors that develop quanto a the glass.

Perfume

Acceso the nose, the Cerchia del releases a varied and intense aromatic bouquet. The first hints are dominated by fruity taccuino, quanto a particular fresh red fruits such as cherry, strawberry and raspberry. Added to these are more delicate nuances of pomegranate and wild flowers, which give the wine an inviting freshness. The scent is enveloping and harmonious, with a hint of light spices, such as white pepper and vanilla, which further enrich the aromatic profile.

Taste

Acceso the palate, the Cerchia del keeps all the promises made acceso the nose. The attack is fresh and lively, with good acidity that perfectly balances the structure of the wine. The red fruit flavors return quanto a the mouth, with a pleasant citrus aftertaste that gives the wine a notable gustatory persistence. The tannic texture, despite being soft and delicate, gives the wine an elegant structure, making it very duttile.

The finale is long and slightly savory, with mineral taccuino that recall the territory of origin and a balance that invites another sip. This balance between freshness and complexity makes it an ideal wine to be appreciated acceso different occasions, from simple tasting quanto a company to more structured meals.

Winemaking Process

The quality of a wine does not only depend acceso the vines used, but also acceso the winemaking process that follows. Per the case of Cerchia del , vinification is carried out with great attention to ensure that the wine retains all its distinctive characteristics, from the freshness of the aromas to the complexity of the flavours.

Harvesting and Selection of Grapes

The Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera grapes are harvested manually during the early hours of the morning, when temperatures are cooler. This helps preserve the integrity of the grapes and prevents excessive heat from negatively affecting their aromas. Once harvested, the grapes are carefully selected to ensure that only the best bunches are used quanto a the production of the wine. This phase is crucial to maintain high quality standards of the Cerchia del .

Pressing and Fermentation

The grapes are subjected to soft pressing to extract the must without excessively breaking the skins, which allows the typical bright pink color of the wine to be obtained, avoiding excessive extraction of tannins. The must is then left to ferment at a controlled temperature, usually around 15-18°C, for a period of around 10-12 days. Fermentation at low temperatures is essential to preserve the delicate fruity and floral aromas of the wine.

Refinement

After fermentation, the wine is left to age quanto a stainless steel tanks for a period of 3-6 months. This process allows the wine to stabilize and develop greater complexity, while maintaining the freshness that characterizes Cerchia del . Some lots may undergo a short refinement quanto a the bottle before being marketed, to ensure that the wine reaches its perfect balance before arriving acceso consumers’ tables.

The use of stainless steel for refinement, instead of wood, allows the primary aromas of the wine to be kept intact, without the influence of the toasted vanilla taccuino that would be obtained from aging quanto a barrique. The result is a fresh, clean wine with a precise aromatic profile, ideal for those looking for an authentic rosé linked to the territory.

Gastronomic pairings

One of the most pleasant aspects of Cerchia del is its great versatility quanto a gastronomic pairings. This rosé, thanks to its freshness and balanced structure, lends itself perfectly to being paired with numerous traditional Mediterranean dishes and beyond.

Antipasti

The Cerchia del is the ideal companion to start a meal with lightness and taste. Perfect with fresh appetizers, such as seafood salads, fish carpaccio and crostini with cherry tomatoes and burrata. Its acidity balances the richer and creamier flavors well, without overpowering the delicacy of the dish. Even a plate of mixed cured meats, with raw ham and capocollo, finds quanto a the Cerchia del an excellent ally, capable of degreasing the palate and preparing it for the next bite.

First courses

For first courses, this rosé wine pairs beautifully with fish vegetable preparations. A classic seafood risotto, with its mescolanza of marine flavours, goes perfectly with the fruity and slightly citrus taccuino of Cerchia del . Even a natura with fresh tomato and basil, a vegetarian lasagna with courgettes and aubergines, harmonizes well with the freshness and balance of the wine.

Second Courses

When it comes to second courses, Cerchia del demonstrates all its versatility. Excellent with grilled fish, such as sea bream sea bass, but also with light white meats such as chicken turkey. The mineral taccuino of the wine, together with its balanced structure, make it perfect for dishes such as chicken fried calamari and prawns. We cannot fail to mention its affinity with typical dishes of Salento cuisine, such as octopus alla pignata, a rustic and tasty dish which finds an ideal accompaniment quanto a Cerchia del thanks to its acidity.

Cheeses

Rosé wine is often overlooked quanto a pairings with cheeses, but Cerchia del demonstrates how it can be a good choice. Fresh and soft cheeses, such as buffalo mozzarella, ricotta a first buonsenso, go perfectly with the fresh and fruity taccuino of the wine. Soft cheeses like brie camembert can also create an interesting contrast, where the creaminess of the cheese is balanced by the lively acidity of the wine.

Pizzas and Focaccias

You can’t talk about Mediterranean cuisine without mentioning seccatore. The Cerchia del is an excellent companion for classic pizzas such as the margherita the marinara, but it also goes well with more elaborate pizzas, such as a Quattro Stagioni a seccatore with ham and rocket. Even focaccias stuffed with grilled vegetables tuna and onion are enhanced by the freshness and liveliness of this wine.

Ethnic dishes

If you love international cuisine, Cerchia del also lends itself well to pairings with ethnic dishes. A fish couscous, a Valencian paella a vegetable curry find an excellent quanto a wine, thanks to its ability to balance intense and spicy flavours, offering a pleasant sensation of freshness to the palate.