Ferrari Rosé Brut is proof that there used to be the time when Champagne went unchallenged. We are all familiar with Prosecco and Moscato d’Asti -the fruit-forward fizzy wines that revolutionized the sparkling wines world in the late 20th century.
But did you know that bubbles made following the classic French method are made in Italy for over a century? And it all started with Ferrari!
Ferrari Wine Story
First, Ferrari sparkling wine house has nothing to do with the legendary Ferrari sports car. It’s a coincidence that the founders of both enterprises have the same last name, and bubbles were made decades before the first Ferrari car left the factory in 1947.
The Ferrari wine story began in 1902 after Giulio Ferrari’s faithful visit to France. He came back with a dream of creating a wine in the Trentino region capable of competing with the best French Champagnes.
Giulio was the first to realize the extraordinary potential of the Trento region and was the first to make substantial plantings of Chardonnay in Italy. He started a small production of sparkling wines following the Méthode Champenoise, with obsessive attention to quality.
Guilio had no children, but he managed to find a successor of his work – Bruno Lunelli, owner of a wine shop in Trento. Thanks to his passion and entrepreneurial talent, Bruno Lunelli succeeded in increasing production without compromising quality. The tradition was continued by Bruno’s children, and today Ferrari is led by the third generation of the Lunelli family.
Ferrari Rosé Brut
In the Bottle
Ferrari Rosé Brut is Pinot Noir 60% and Chardonnay 40%. Just like most Champagne, it’s a non-vintage sparkling, meaning it’s a blend of two or more vintages. All grapes came from Trento DOC (appellation) and were hand-harvested from late August to the second week of September.
The bubbles were aged on yeast made in-house for at least 20 months. Interestingly, the first time Rosé Brut was made back in 1969.
In the Glass
Ferrari Rosé Brut has a copper pink color and beautiful tiny bubbles rising from the bottom in the glass.
It starts with a baked apple aroma and continues with strawberry caramel and freshly baked batard bread. On the palate, the mousse feels creamy with flavors of red cherry, ripe lemon, red apple, and hibiscus iced tea.
Aftertaste
The finish is filled with cherry and a touch of lemon acidity. If you haven’t explored Metodo Classico Italian wines, Ferrari Rosé Brut would be a good start. It’s priced at the entry-level Champagne, yet it can easily challenge French bubbles that are priced twice as much.
Trentodoc is one of the two Italian regions specializing in Metodo Classico (Italian for Méthode Champenoise) bubbles, and many of their wines exceed the production requirements of Champagne.
One has to wonder, what would’ve happened if Giulio Ferrari didn’t challenge the status quo and started producing sparkling wines that now define the Trento wine region?! Would there even be classic bubbles made in Italy?!
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