Cavalchina is an estate winery nestled in the village of Custoza near Lake Garda in the Bardolino region of the Italian Alps. Franco Piona and his nephew Francesco run this family operation with deep roots in the region, which dates back to their grandfather who planted grapes here in 1948 after the end of WW2. Winemaking in this area goes back much further of course, as these glacial hills were classified as top-notch vineyard lands by the Hapsburgs who ruled this area prior to the unification of Italy. Fun fact: Franco is also the guitar tech for Steve Vai and Billy Gibbons when they're on tour, but lucky for us he hasn't quit his day job, because this rosé rocks! 

Early-harvested red grapes are crushed and left to macerate on the skins for a single cold night, ensuring a subtle extraction and light color. This pale copper juice is then fermented in steel tanks and the wine aged on lees until bottling, creating a very clean and crunchy rosé with a beautiful stony dry finish. 

"White peach, honeydew melon, sea shells and salinity. Clear-cut, classic and clean, but what makes it stand apart from other rosšs is the brushed-stone grip that defines Bardolino minerality and shapes the wines from start to finish. And the finish is precise and piercing with sapidity." - Jancis Robinson

Pairing: Pesto pasta, Arugula salad with Asparagus and Pignoli, Veggie crudité

Grape: 60% Corvina, 35% Rondinella, 5% Molinara

Soil: Glacial Schist