2016 Fattoria Kappa ‘Etabeta’ Frizzante Rosé

Region: Castellina Marittima < Tuscany < Italy

Grapes: Vermentino, Sangiovese, Syrah, Rebo

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Biodynamic farming, only horses used in the vineyard, no machines; alluvial soils; Vermentino fermented first in open vats, then the rest of the varieties added a week later.  A portion of the must is removed and kept chilled.  Everything rests in stainless and concrete vats until early February when the reserved must is added and wine is bottled with a crown cap, unfined and unfiltered with no added So2. The must finishes fermenting in the bottle until there is no residual sugar to eat; 11.5% ABV

Winemaker: Andrea di Maio

Fattoria Kappa started in 1999 when two Austrian friends, both wine lovers, were on holiday in Italy and found themselves lamenting the (sometimes questionable) quality of high-priced Italian wines and decided to start their own project in the Maremma, Tuscany’s own wild west (except that it’s southern). They were adamant about working in a very traditional way, no machines or spraying in the vineyards, no additives, including So2, in the cellar. This is their lightly fizzy rosé, a blend of red and white varietals done in the Col Fondo method, a traditional way to make bubbles using the preserved must of the grapes to start a second bottle fermentation, crown caps and no disgorging.  The color is a beautiful rose gold, the bubbles soft and fleeting, but the palate is vivid with bright, juicy red fruit and a ripe melon finish. In a world of rapidly rising pet’nat prices, this biodynamic beauty is a steal!