Le Fraghe Bardolino, Veneto, Italy 2024
Le Fraghe is a small organic estate in Cavaion Veronese, on the eastern shores of Lake Garda, where the Poggi family has grown grapes since 1881. Matilde Poggi founded the winery with her first vintage in 1984, transforming the family property into one of Bardolino's most respected estates — and, through her role as President of the Federazione Italiana Vignaioli Indipendenti (FIVI) and later of its European counterpart CEVI, one of the most prominent voices for independent growers in Italy. Certified organic since 2009, Le Fraghe produces wines of clarity and freshness that foreground Bardolino's elegant, lighter-styled character — quite deliberately distinct from the richer wines of neighboring Valpolicella.
- WINEMAKER: Matilde Poggi (with consulting winemaker Federico Giotto)
- FARMING: Certified Organic. Vineyards planted between 1992 and 2017; hand harvested.
- VARIETY: 80% Corvina, 20% Rondinella. Both varieties are vinified separately.
- TERROIR: The soil at Bardolino is glacial schist, deposited by the glaciers that carved out Lake Garda, which imparts a distinct mineral backbone to the wines. The growing area sits between the base of Lake Garda and the hillside appellation of Valpolicella, not far from Verona. Vineyards are situated at approximately 200 meters elevation on southeast-facing morainic slopes.
- VINIFICATION: The two varieties are fermented separately. Maceration lasts 7–8 days, coinciding with fermentation. Cap management involves délestage in the morning and pumpover in the evening. After the wine is drawn off, malolactic fermentation follows. Fermentation is conducted with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel and cement at controlled temperature.
- AGING: The wine rests in stainless steel tanks until spring, when it is bottled. Lightly fined, filtered through 1-micron paper, and naturally cold stabilized.
- TASTING NOTES: Purple-tinged ruby of medium intensity. Aromas of sweet-sour cherry, blueberry, fresh herbs, orange peel, cinnamon, and black pepper. Velvety and light-bodied on the palate, with bright, balancing acidity and a clean, savory finish.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Pork, chicken, grilled salmon, pasta dishes, pizza.
Le Fraghe Bardolino, Veneto, Italy 2024
Le Fraghe is a small organic estate in Cavaion Veronese, on the eastern shores of Lake Garda, where the Poggi family has grown grapes since 1881. Matilde Poggi founded the winery with her first vintage in 1984, transforming the family property into one of Bardolino's most respected estates — and, through her role as President of the Federazione Italiana Vignaioli Indipendenti (FIVI) and later of its European counterpart CEVI, one of the most prominent voices for independent growers in Italy. Certified organic since 2009, Le Fraghe produces wines of clarity and freshness that foreground Bardolino's elegant, lighter-styled character — quite deliberately distinct from the richer wines of neighboring Valpolicella.
- WINEMAKER: Matilde Poggi (with consulting winemaker Federico Giotto)
- FARMING: Certified Organic. Vineyards planted between 1992 and 2017; hand harvested.
- VARIETY: 80% Corvina, 20% Rondinella. Both varieties are vinified separately.
- TERROIR: The soil at Bardolino is glacial schist, deposited by the glaciers that carved out Lake Garda, which imparts a distinct mineral backbone to the wines. The growing area sits between the base of Lake Garda and the hillside appellation of Valpolicella, not far from Verona. Vineyards are situated at approximately 200 meters elevation on southeast-facing morainic slopes.
- VINIFICATION: The two varieties are fermented separately. Maceration lasts 7–8 days, coinciding with fermentation. Cap management involves délestage in the morning and pumpover in the evening. After the wine is drawn off, malolactic fermentation follows. Fermentation is conducted with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel and cement at controlled temperature.
- AGING: The wine rests in stainless steel tanks until spring, when it is bottled. Lightly fined, filtered through 1-micron paper, and naturally cold stabilized.
- TASTING NOTES: Purple-tinged ruby of medium intensity. Aromas of sweet-sour cherry, blueberry, fresh herbs, orange peel, cinnamon, and black pepper. Velvety and light-bodied on the palate, with bright, balancing acidity and a clean, savory finish.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Pork, chicken, grilled salmon, pasta dishes, pizza.