7 Delizioso Rosatos You Should Be Drinking This Year
Italy’s numerous pink wines demand your full attention this year. Brighter days have pranced along and now it’s time for guzzlin’ some of that pink stuff - you know, that coral-tinged (or salmon, or fuschia, etc.) luscious liquid that entices fun and sun? Yes, that stuff. This year, Italy has a tray full of delizioso rosato (rosé in Italian) for the thirsty masses.
Some of these rosatos have been around for centuries and are even suggested for year-round drinking- gasp! Others hail from well-known red wine territories such as Tuscany, and (drum roll, please) there’s a new bubbly showstopper making her debut in 2021 that we recently covered - Prosecco Rosé. Yes, you read that correctly. You may say rosé or say rosato, but, either way that you look at it, let’s not call the whole thing off - let’s just have another glass.
Benazzoli Tecla Chiaretto di Bardolino 2020 - Bardolino, Veneto $17
Wine lovers and novices are discovering Chiaretto (“little clear”) as a serious and chic wine that is meant to drink all year long. Sisters Claudia and Giulia Benazzoli are fourth-generation winemakers in Bardolino, a region on the banks of Lake Garda whose family has been making Chiaretto since 1974.
“ I've always seen a glass of Chiaretto on my table and my father has always produced this wine since he bought the land in Bardolino wine region,” says Claudia Benazzoli.
The family has increased production of Chiaretto in the last few years to satisfy their thirsty fanatics in New York, Toronto, and Australia - their biggest markets. Tecla is a sensory profusion of rose petals and wild strawberries that hits the spot just right. Fun Fact: (I warned you, didn’t I?) The oldest printed document referring to Chiaretto wine in the Verona province was an 1806 copy of Vocabulary of Accademia della Crusca where about a thousand words were collected and notated with a “V” to symbolize Veronese language. Chiaretto was one of them.
La Colombera Barbera Rosato 2019 - Piedmont $16
The Semino family lives and breathes agriculture. The family’s land was once dedicated to wheat and chickpea farming but now has its focus on grape-growing with that same dedication. The electric fuschia-esque colored rosato stands out on shelves while entertaining your curiosity and delivers an outstanding taste to boot. Lush and round, the wine is made from barbera, the most planted grape in Piedmont. I’d even dare to have it with heavier dishes such as grilled meats and veggies.
Colline San Biagio Balè 2019 - Tuscany $40
This voluptuous Indacazione Geografica Tipica (IGT, for short) rosato springs from the rustic Tuscan countryside near the town of Carmignano. Often overshadowed by neighboring regions, Carmignano has been Tuscany’s best-kept secret - until now. But, fun fact: The Etruscans and Romans tended to the local vineyards in their hey-day and Carmignano was even one of the first DOCs in the region. Vineyards here are filled with a hefty amount of Bordeaux grapes such as merlot and cab sauv, but also touts some of our favorite Italian stallion grapes like sangiovese. Balè is an oh-so-yummy duet of merlot and sangiovese from winemaker Gabriele Pocaterra and is a parade of melon and tropical fruit notes. The second fun fact about Carmignano (surprise bonus!) Leonardo da Vinci lived in Bacchereto, a stone’s throw from Carmignano.
Pasini San Giovanni Il Chiaretto 2020 - Valèntesi, Lombardy - $17
On the western banks of Lake Garda lies Valèntesi, “the corner of the Mediterranean and the foot of The Alps.” Valèntesi was bestowed a DOC title in 2011 but has a rich tradition of viticulture dating back to Roman times and like its neighbor Bardolino, also produces Chiaretto. Today, nearly 1,000 hectares are tended to by 90 grape growers and the region produces 3 million bottles, 2 million of which are rosato. The wines are based on groppello, an indigenous grape in the area that is linked to sangiovese. The thin-skinned groppello is ideal for making these light, flirtatious and fun wines. Pasini San Giovanni’s Chiaretto is the product of a very hands-on approach to winemaking. The grapes used in the blend (groppello, marzemino, barbera, sangiovese), are organically farmed, hand-picked, vinified separately, and then joined together to create a seriously superb wine.
Azienda Agricola Cirelli Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo Anfora Rosato 2018 - Abruzzo $25, avg
Fun Fact: Cerasuolo D’Abruzzo is a DOC dedicated just to the production of rosato. Abruzzo is perched next to the Adriatic Sea on Italy’s Eastern Coast and is well-known for making the rustic red Montepulciano D’Abruzzo. Cersasuolo (“cherry”) is a pink wine that is crafted from that same grape of montepulciano. Azienda Agricola Cirelli, is a melodic habitat where grapes, olives, fruits, and meats are produced with the utmost care and consideration to the land. Their organic anfora aged rosato is no exception. Juicy and rustic, this cersasuolo was designed for “oohs-and-aahs.”
Girolamo Russo Etna Rosato 2019 - Etna, Sicily $30, avg
This refreshing volcano juice is everything you need on those scorchers of days. Coming from vines planted on ancient lava beds of Mount Etna (fun fact: The world’s most active volcano that last erupted in 2020) in Sicily, these old vines bring up some of that sought-after minerality Etna wines are known for. And you’re in good hands with Girolamo Russo, who makes the wine and works the vineyards himself. Clean, crisp, and savory, this Etna Rosato is erupting with flavor. Get it while it’s hot.
Frescobaldi Alìe 2019 - Tuscany - $20, avg
It’s somewhat easy to dive right into a glass of this pale pink beauty. Alìe, named after a marine entity in Greek mythology, is a blend of syrah and vermentino from the maritime climate of Tuscany. Its elegant structure and lip-smacking minerality will overtake your palate like your own Poseidon adventure. Perfect with mussels or linguine and clam sauce or simply enjoyed poolside, Alìe is the easy-breezy go-with-the-flow kinda wine you didn’t know you needed.