Chillable Red = Le Fraghe Bardolino

Is this the perfect chillable red? After a summer of crisp whites, crushable rose’s and balanced skin-contact wines, I find myself craving a red….. but not a winter red, full of plush, velvety tannins and dark, red fruits! More a lighter, red-fruit and maybe chillable kinda vibe - ya know?!

So when I was pondering on what to drink the other day, I decided to put a few lighter reds that I have always loved in the fridge to see what happened. A few definitely stood out and we’ll talk more about the others later – but Le Fraghe Bardolino really, really hit the spot on that day. Maybe it was the plate of fresh tomato sauce pasta I was eating - maybe it was just the slightly cooler day and my couch vibe…. who knows? What I do know is that this wine is bursting with sweet-sour cherries and late summer blueberries. Plus there is a hint of spice with a core of minerality that I absolutely love!

Matilde Poggi is an amazing lady! As the president of the Federazione Italiana Vignaioli Indipendenti (or FIVI, the Italian Federation of Independent Winegrowers) and vice president of the Confédération Européenne des Vignerons Indépendants (or CEVI, the European Confederation of Independent Winegrowers), this lady is busy! Ahem - she also is the single parent of daughters, farms the property where she grew up and makes wine!! HERO!!!

“It has always taken me some time to recognize
and be proud of my personal achievements and successes.” –Matilde Poggi

Bardolino is one of the oldest appellations in Italy and while her father sold the grapes, Matilde chose to go another route. 34+ years ago, she took over the vineyards and stopped the spraying / chemical usage. Located near Lake Garda, she marveled as the vineyards recovered and the wild strawberries returned. Other flora & fauna made the land return to her childhood memories and she become even more determined to maintain this magical place. Fast forward to 2024 and her land is truly a marvel of vines as well as wild plants that are abundant between the rows of vines! Her daughters have grown and are part of her vision for this amazing place. She grows native varietals (Corvina, Rondinella and Garganega) and experiments with the best closures - she’s been instrumental in learning that screw-caps can allow a bit of oxygen exchange just as a cork but without the risk of the cork. 

I find her wines fun, easy & absolutely delicious! And when I’m craving a chillable, easy drinking red, Bardolino is where I turn! Throw this yummy in the fridge for 30-minutes for a high-tone red fruit vibe or leave it on the counter for a darker plum, spice vibe. Your call!! Can’t wait to hear what you think!!