Podere Sottoilnoce 'Cattabrega' Sparkling Rosé Lambrusco Grasparossa DOC 2022

In the hillside village of Castelvetro di Modena, just south of Modena in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, Max Brondolo is helping to keep several indigenous grape varieties alive and in the public consciousness with a series of delicious sur-lie, bottle-fermented sparkling wines he crafts under the name Podere Sottoilnoce. Working with just 6.5 hectares of vines (and maintaining almost five adjacent hectares of forests, lakes and wild flowers), he cultivates three Lambrusco varieties, uva tosca and two very local types of trebbiano via an organic and biodynamic approach, hand harvesting and caring for each with utmost respect for the whole ecosystem. All grapes are vinified separately in a diversity of ceramic, steel and glass vessels, and once alcoholic fermentation is complete, are then blended and bottled with must from the previous vintage to kickstart a second fermentation. Unfined and unfiltered, ‘Cattabrega’ is a blend of uva tosca and lambrusco grasparossa. There’s no disgorgement: Instead, the yeasts remain in suspension inside the bottle, giving the resulting frothy and coral-colored wine a slightly cloudy appearance. Aromatic, savory and somewhat tart in the best way, it offers lively acid subtle bubbles, with a depth of red berry and wild watermelon flavors balanced by notes of fresh garden herbs. Certified Organic, Biodynamically Grown, Low-intervention/Natural Wine.