Gaglioppo Rosato 'A Vita 2023

The Rosato di 'A Vita unites crispness of fruit with the sea of Calabria, and falls into the category of everyday wines to hoard. Francesco De Franco is a winemaker who knows his vineyards and grapes perfectly, and this is evident in his liquids that are so spontaneous yet endowed with an uncommon elegance. 8 hectares in the Cirò area, planted with Gaglioppo, Magliocco and Greco grapes, and cultivated without the aid of any chemical or synthetic substances. In the cellar, the same credo is followed, so fermentation takes place spontaneously and very little sulphur is added at bottling. Photographs that taste of sea and land.

The Rosato wine of 'A Vita is produced from pure Gaglioppo grapes from young 10-year-old vines, which rest on clayey-calcareous soils located close to the sea. The grapes, harvested by hand in a single vineyard called Fego, are destemmed and crushed so that the must ferments spontaneously in steel and refines in the same container for 9 months in contact with the yeasts. No clarification or filtration before bottling and a short rest in glass before release.

'A Vita Rosato appears in the glass with a soft pink colour, tending almost towards orange. On the nose, all the brackish charge of the Ionian Sea overlooked by the vines rises sharply. Then there are the wild strawberries, juniper and all the hints of the Mediterranean maquis, metaphorically and otherwise enticing one to dive into the glass. The sip once again portrays its land of origin in a clear-cut manner, combining a sunny élan with a refined but persistent savouriness. Always whispered, never vulgar, portentous on delicate fish dishes, or on well-seasoned bruschetta.