Bardolino DOC Classico Vigne Alte 2024

This Bardolino comes from the historic Bardolino Classico zone, on the eastern shore of Lake Garda, in Veneto. The Vigne Alte selection brings together grapes from the estate's highest vineyards, planted on morainic hills left by ancient glaciers. The lake softens the climate and keeps the air constantly moving, while the stony, free-draining soils give fresh, fragrant wines. Based in Bardolino since 1870, the Zeni family is one of the benchmark houses of the appellation.

The Corvina and Rondinella are harvested by hand, selecting the best bunches at optimal ripeness. Winemaking follows tradition, with fermentation on the skins and a short maceration of four to six days, which extracts fruit and colour without excess tannin. The wine is then aged solely in steel tanks, with no oak, to preserve the freshness and fruity character that define Bardolino.

This wine reveals notes of cherry, morello cherry, raspberry, wild strawberry, redcurrant, violet, white pepper and almond. The intense, fruity and slightly vinous nose is lifted by a floral touch and a hint of spice. The palate is full, fragrant and harmonious, carried by lively acidity and fine, supple tannins. The fresh, crunchy finish invites you to serve it lightly chilled, at around 15 °C.

Ah, Italy, what a beautiful, hedonistic country, the land of la dolce vita, but how difficult it is to understand its wine industry! The key to understanding the appellation system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous nation, as each region has its own appellation system. Italy can offer wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, bottles brimming with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless, characterless wines sold under their most commercially useful and prestigious name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco, and many others... But let's talk a little history. Viticulture in Italy dates back to antiquity and originated in Greece. The Etruscans are said to have introduced the vine, and Greek immigrants improved and modified the grape varieties, subsequently calling the country "Oenotria": the land of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life, and certain regions already distinguished themselves by the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible mark of their conquest. Today, Italy is the world's largest wine producer, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic zones. The northern mountains have a rather harsh mountain climate. The plains of the "central boot" are characterized by a continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the southern part of the Italian boot, the Mediterranean climate prevails, with very hot and dry summers, not forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In short, Italy produces a wide variety of wines thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originated in its own lands. It is a country as complex as its wines, which deserve to be explored!