Italian Rosé Is On The Rise

As the thirst for rosé continues to flourish, Italian winemakers shine a light on the terroir giving this category even more diversity

When summer descends, rosé is the wine we reach for. What was once a category associated first and foremost with Provence, France, has expanded in provenance. With the increasing number of winemakers embracing pink wine, the geographical regions we associate with top-tier bottles now extend beyond the obvious, and Italy is recognized now more than ever for its interpretation.

“In general, people are wanting to explore outside of the classics,” suggests Christine Collado, general manager of Parcelle Wine. “When first learning about rosé, everyone starts with something from France. As consumers become increasingly more knowledgeable about wine, they’re continuing to branch out.”

“In Italy, rosé has exploded,” says Tara Empson, CEO of Empson USA, a company devoted to championing Italy’s indigenous and single-varietal wines and telling stories of each estate through its expressions. “Everyone is doing it, but as you travel between the regions, you’re still drinking wines made from the grapes that are autochthonous to those areas.”

FERGHETTINA FRANCIACORTA ROSÉ BRUT DOCG
Franciacorta—a small wine-producing area of Lombardy—has long been known for sparkling wines produced in the méthode champenoise. Ferghettina is now making this sparkling rosé from pinot noir grapes cultivated on the slopes by Lake Garda. Aged 36 months on the lees, the result is a soft pink wine with raspberry notes.

PIETRADOLCE ETNA ROSATO DOC
Pietradolce cultivates its grapes on the northern slopes of Sicily, with vines that are between 40 and 50 years of age, volcanic soil and an altitude of almost 2,000 feet. Nerello mascalese grapes—an autochthonous variety to Mt Etna—and the characteristics of this terroir give this rosato its minerality.

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By Lauren Jade Hill | DuJour