Rosa dei Frati – Rosé 2025

Rosa dei Frati Rosé 2025 by Cà dei Frati. Chiaretto from four grape varieties, vinified for freshness.

Rosa dei Frati 2025 is the Italian rosé wine from Cà dei Frati, located on the southern shore of Lake Garda, made from Groppello, Marzemino, Sangiovese, and Barbera. It is not a sweet summer rosé, not a marketing product, not a bland aperitif from the discount shelf.

Rosa dei Frati 2025 is a dry Chiaretto from the Riviera del Garda Classico, made from the Lombard grape varieties Groppello, Marzemino, Sangiovese, and Barbera. In the glass, the cuvée shimmers in a delicate salmon pink with copper reflections and a slight brilliance. On the nose, bright fruit and floral notes open up: hawthorn blossom, green apple, a hint of wild strawberry. On the palate, the bottle combines a tension-filled acidity with fine minerality. A hint of salt recalls the calcareous morainic soils of the region. It is the rosé interpretation of a winery that has known the profile of its home region for generations. Instead of a trendy product, this is a wine with a clear signature.

Hawthorn, green apple, and wild cherry

The aromatics of this cuvée play with the lighter end of the fruit. White blossoms are upfront—hawthorn, acacia, a hint of linden blossom, complemented by a delicate floral depth. This is followed by a bright, fresh-fruity note: green apple, young pear, a hint of wild forest strawberry, and a touch of red currant. In the background lies a subtly herbaceous spice, reminiscent of fresh rosemary tips or finely ground white pepper. This piquant note is what distinguishes the wine from the vast majority of sweetish rosé labels.

On the palate, the wine is precise and lean. The acidity is clearly present without tipping into sharp harshness. A fine salinity adds tension to the mid-palate. The finish is dry and surprisingly long for a rosé in this price range. Overall, it's an elegant rosé type—straightforward, mineral, and without a sweet veil. Many competitors in the Provence style completely lack this tautness.

Even those expecting a semi-dry summer rosé will find the bottle too lean and too dry. Similarly, this wine is not the right label for pure enthusiasts of powerful Bandol or Tavel styles. The cuvée deliberately remains light and cool, in the style of a Chiaretto del Garda rather than a Provençal heavyweight.

From Aperitif to Fish

Serve the rosé at 8 to 10 °C in a slender white wine glass. A champagne flute is no more appropriate here than a bulbous Burgundy glass. The aromatics require a concentrated, rather slender shape.

As an aperitif, the cuvée is a classic summer starter that tells a story even without appetizers. At the table, it pairs well with light, Mediterranean dishes. Caprese with ripe tomatoes and burrata fits just as well as vitello tonnato in its fresh summer version. Grilled prawns with parsley-garlic oil, a risotto al limone, or a light pasta with pine nuts, arugula, and roasted tomatoes find their perfect partner here. The wine also showcases its strengths with light poultry with tarragon and lemon. Likewise, with a quiche with leeks and goat cheese or grilled salmon with avocado salsa.

Our tip: This cuvée is surprisingly long-lasting for a rosé, as the yeast aging gives it substance. A second season smooths out the youthful acidity and makes the cuvée appear deeper and rounder, with subtle secondary aromas. Once opened, the bottle, sealed and refrigerated, easily keeps for two to three days. On the second evening, it often shows even more depth and spice. For a cross-tasting, we recommend the previous vintage Rosa dei Frati Rosé 2024 and the Magnum variant of the 2022 vintage for a vertical tasting.

Four grape varieties from the southern shore of Lake Garda

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