What I Learned
The DOC Bardolino zone centers around the small town of Bardolino, east of the shores of Lake Garda, in northern Italy.
This zone produces both DOC Bardolino, and Doc Chiaretto wines. These wines come from the Corvina Veronese grape, also known simply as Corvina. Some Rondinella, and sometimes Molinara, also the main grapes of the adjoining Valpolicella region may be found in blends of Bardolino or Chiaretto wines.
Chiaretto is a rose wine. To produce Chiaretto wine, wine makers take the red grapes and quickly press them, leaving the red skins only very briefly in contact with the white juice. The root of the name Chiaretto, “chiaro,” means clear or light in Italian. The resulting wine is pink or light salmon colored, fruity, almost citric, and smooth.
To produce Bardolino wine, these same grapes are harvested and pressed at the same time. However, the juice is left for a much longer time in contact with the red skins. This results in a ruby red colored wine that has a tannic edge to it, as well as nice fruit flavors.
Both these wines tend to be lighter (in flavor and color) than the nearby Valpolicella wines, thus go well with lighter Italian dishes such as pizza or some risottos.
What I Tasted
2013 Bardolino, Superiore, Classico, DOCG, Casetto: A dry red wine blend (Rondinella, Molinara, Corvina, Merlot, Cabernet) with dark garnet color; smoke, cherry and tobacco nose, with rich stewed prune and slight leather flavors; medium minus tannins with a smooth, lingering finish.
2016 Bardolino, DOC, Azienda Agricola Il Pignetto (VR): A dry red wine blend (Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara, Sangiovese) with dark ruby color; blackberry nose, with red berries and spice flavors; medium minus tannins
2016 Bardolino Chiaretto, DOC, Azienda Agricola Il Pignetto (VR): A dry rose wine blend (Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara, Sangiovese) with medium minus salmon color; mineral nose, with strawberry and floral flavors, mild plus tannins.
2016 Bardolino, Classico, DOC, Azienda Agricola Costadoro: A dry red wine blend with medium minus ruby color; tar and tobacco nose, with floral, cherry and spice flavors; medium minus tannins.
2015 Bardolino, Ca’ de’ Rocchi, DOP, Casa Vitivinicola Tinazzi, (Lazise): A dry red wine blend with dark ruby color; dried cherry and tobacco nose, with floral, cherry, smoke, tobacco and spice flavors; medium plus tannins.