Bardolino: From Quantity to Quality
Bardolino, located on the southeastern shore of Lake Garda, is often ranked lower in the hierarchy of Italian wine regions. This wasn’t always the case. There was a time when the wines from this area were on par with those from Valpolicella. However, towards the end of the last century, an influx of tourists from Germany and Austria arrived, seeking local flavor but at minimal cost. This led many winemakers to make the unfortunate shift from quality to quantity. The result has been an abundance of cheap wines with a corresponding lack of quality.
Daniele Delaini has been fighting this trend for 20 years, mostly on his own, but with remarkable success. His efforts are epitomized by Avresir, his flagship wine, which undoubtedly stands among the great red wines of Veneto. The grapes—Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara—are grown on a small hill with barren, calcareous soils surrounding the estate. These vines produce minimal but high-quality yields, are organically cultivated, and are hand-harvested. After fermentation, the wine spends over two years in wooden barrels before being bottled unfiltered. The bottles then spend an additional year in the cellar of Villa Calicantus to achieve perfect maturity.
The result is both spectacular and profound. Despite its moderate alcohol content, Avresir boasts remarkable depth. Its body is velvety and substantial, with enough tannins to provide a guiding structure. The aromas span from delicate floral and herbal notes to red berries and cloves. The finish is characterized by vitality, smoothness, and focused, lingering fruit notes.
Fact Sheet
- Grape Varieties: Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara
- Cultivation: Organic
- Vineyard: Morainic soils
- Harvest: By hand
- Fermentation: Spontaneous | Wild yeasts, in wooden barrels
- Aging: 2 years in used barrique
- Filtration: None
- SO₂: <30mg/l
- Alcohol: 13.5% vol.
- Closure: Natural cork
- Optimal Drinking Window: Now – 2035
- Content and Price per Liter: 0.75 l/(€48.12/l)
All winemakers listed at Vinonudo work in their vineyards using compost, organic fertilizers, and natural preparations, avoiding the use of herbicides, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers.
