Cavalchina Bardolino 2024

Cavalchina Bardolino 2024 is a blend of 60% Corvina, 30% Rondinella, and 10% Molinara grown on glacial moraines and alluvial soils along the southern shores of Lake Garda in the Veneto. The vineyards were officially recognized as among the region's finest as far back as 1848, and the Piona family has farmed this sixteen-hectare estate since the early 1900s, producing benchmark wines for the Bardolino appellation. This is the classic trio of the eastern Garda handled with the restraint and precision the zone deserves. The Piona family farms on terrain shaped by ancient glacial activity and moderated by the thermal influence of Lake Garda, one of Italy's largest bodies of water. The glacial moraines and alluvial fans provide excellent drainage and distinct minerality that characterize the region's wines. Vinification takes place in stainless steel with temperature control to preserve freshness, and the wine is kept on its lees until bottling in March, a practice that adds texture without sacrificing the lifted aromatics that define Bardolino. The result is a wine that makes a quiet case for one of Italy's most underappreciated red wine appellations. The nose is bright and inviting, with cherry, wild cherry, and a floral lift that marks Corvina at its most expressive. On the palate the wine is fresh, lively, and dry, with juicy red fruit, a thread of anise, and the persistent peppery, spicy finish that is the hallmark of well-grown Bardolino from the Garda shore. Tannins are fine and barely noticeable, and the acidity keeps everything clean and food-friendly. Serve it slightly cool, around 60 degrees, alongside grilled lake fish, risotto, fresh pasta, roast chicken, or a simple antipasto spread. This is the kind of wine that belongs on a table, not saved for a special occasion. In stock at Off Premise in Lincoln Park.