Bakari Rosa Confondo Vino Rosato Frizzante

Region: Gambellara < Veneto < Italy            

Grapes: Corvina grapes and Garganega must          

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Certified organic + certified biodynamic farming; 60+ year old vines on white 'Gambellara' volcanic mineral soils; fermented in steel, then 2nd fermentation in bottle started with the addition of Garganega must; unfined/unfiltered, with no added So2; zero-zero; 11% ABV

Winemaker: Stefano Menti 

We had the pleasure of visiting Stefano at his ancient cellar in Gambellara, roaming the steep, super volcanic vineyards and learning the story of how he became the natural wine king of Gambellara: the son and great-grandson of winemakers, Stefano Menti moved away, worked at a few pioneering biodynamic estates, then returned home to the family vineyard to make natural wines, on his own terms. When dad summoned him back to help the failing business, Stefano agreed, but on one condition: no more of the conventional farming BS used by his father since the 70’s.  He went home, got rid of all the chemicals and returned to the hands-off methods used by his great grandfather. “The wine starts from the fruit,” he explains, “It is essential that the fruit is as pure as possible”.   He makes his own label, and is also involved in a fun new project called Bakari that he started with a few friends with the goal of producing natural, well made wines that were "easy to drink, democratic but not conceptual".  Basically, good natural wine for the people.

This Rosa Confondo is frizzante made in the ancestral method, with a second fermentation in the bottle started by the addition of grape must.  'Confondo' is a play on Col Fondo, meaning "on the lees" -- they don't disgorge, so the spent lees remain in the bottle and give the wine the lovely hazy character.  The flavors pop with strawberry, fuzzy peach skin and rose petals, with just the slightest hint of funk to cut any sweetness.   A super tasty, easy and adorable bottle of pink bubbles for any occasion or time of day.  Breakfast wine, perhaps?