20-02-2022 by Nick Santos (Alivini Company Ltd)
Costaripa is the Italian wine producer that needs no introduction: a name that’s engrained in winemaking tradition, owner and oenologist Mattia Vezzola has undisputed international fame thanks both to his vocation to real rosé wines (a historical reference in Valtenesi, Lombardy) as well as the highest quality sparkling wines to which Mattia has dedicated himself since 1981 (the times when he headed production of the equally famous Bellavista wines). Since 2007 he has been awarded regularly as Italy’s ‘oenologist of the year’ by Gambero Rosso, evoking perfection in every aspect of his wines through his passion, skill and experience.
Alongside his daughter, Nicole, and son, Gherardo, the family’s focus on emphasising rosé to be a wine style and not simply a colour is paying off – their RosaMara has received numerous accolades since 2009 and most recently the 2020 vintage received the prestigious Tre Bicchieri and remains one of very few rosés to ever achieve top marks, with their other pink wines also following suit.
The new-look RosaMara bottle styling released with the award-winning 2020 vintage.
(image courtesy of Costaripa)
Their pink masterpieces are unique in each case, although they have on common factor between them: the ‘teardrop’ vinification method, a process that requires utmost precision in order to obtain the perfect pale pink colour from red skinned grape varietals only. Costaripa’s line-up of award-winning pink wines comes as follows:
- RosaMara – made from Groppello, Marzemino, Sangiovese, Barbera, it is fresh with an explosion of fruit; elegant, pleasant and complex.
- Molmenti Rosé – made from Groppello, Marzemino, Sangiovese, Barbera, a wine dedicated to Pompeo Gherardo Molmenti, creator of the original Chiaretto di Moniga in 1896. Bottled after 2 years of barrel aging, it’s more complex than the RosaMara, more mature and pairs best with even more flavoursome meat dishes.
- Brut Rosé – non-vintage sparkling wine made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (the latter being partly vinified red and white) and aged in oak in accordance with the ‘metodo classico’ or ‘champagnoise’. It is extremely elegant, fresh, with hints of red fruit and very fine perlage.
- Grande Annata Brut Rosé – the vintage sparkling wine presents elevated sensations in all areas when compared to its non-vintage sibling. Produced only from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grown on the estate’s best southern-facing slopes, it is a sophisticated and complex sparkling wine, on-par with some of the world’s best champagnes.
- PalmArgentina – made from over-ripe Groppello and Marzemino of the estate’s oldest vines with a small addition of young Moscato Rosa. This is one of the world’s only built-for-purpose rosé dessert wines that simply should not be missed. What’s more, it’s available in small quantities so never easy to get hold of this nectar.
Costaripa by Mattia Vezzola is regarded as one of Alivini’s top and highly-respected exclusive brands, having worked together for over 20 years to bring the best of Italy to the UK!
