Here's a fantastic summer wine that looks and drinks like a rosado, even though it's marketed as a red by the folks who make it.
This light red is 11% abv. It comes from Italy's Veneto region, produced by Cantina Montelliana, a cooperative that's been making wine since the 1950s. They're in the Treviso province and take grapes from Montello and Colli Asolani. Exactly what grapes they take is a mystery to me - perhaps someone more knowledgable than I on Italian wine can fill in the blanks. It reminds me a lot of Refosco, and I would not be surprised to find it is fermented without any wood. It is a Vino da Tavola - table wine - and as such is unregulated by the Italian wine beaurocracy.
Whatever grapes are in it make the wine as dark as a rosado, a ruby red tint I can see through it easily. There's a trace of tiny bubbles clinging to the sides of the glass. In fact, the wine shows just a touch of frizzante, especially when not chilled. The nose is so fresh and perfumed, like a basket of fresh-picked cherries. The taste is not sweet, but it is rather reminiscent of a cherry soda from a flavor standpoint. There's a fairly big strawberry profile, too. Throw in a hint of spiciness and you have a light and delicious red that tastes great slightly chilled for a summer day.
The wine's nice acidity makes it a cinch that it will pair with salads, pasta or even chicken, pork or veal. When served cold, a really grapey taste comes in. Reminiscent of, but not exactly like, the taste of Spanada wine from back in the '70s.
