Ronchedone – 2023

Ronchedone 2023 by Cà dei Frati. Red Wine Cuvée from Lake Garda, Marzemino with Sangiovese and Cabernet.

Ronchedone 2023 is the red cuvée from the Lugana house Cà dei Frati, made from Marzemino, Sangiovese and a small proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon. Not a typical Bardolino, not a Tuscan classic, not an easy-drinking entry-level Italian.

Ronchedone 2023 is a dry red wine from the Dal Cero family in Lombardy. The cuvée combines Marzemino, Sangiovese, and a small proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon. In the glass, the wine displays a vibrant ruby red with violet reflections. The nose reveals a dense bouquet of cherry, blackberry, and blueberry, along with balsamic notes and fine spice. On the palate, silky tannins meet lively acidity and a long, slightly peppery finish. It is the red answer from a house otherwise known for its Lugana white wines — a deliberate expansion of its core product range.

Cherry, Blackberry, and a Hint of Pepper

The aromatics of this red wine stand on three pillars. Red fruits lead: ripe sour cherry, black cherry, a hint of wild strawberry. These are followed by darker berries — blackberry, blueberry, a touch of elderberry. In the background are subtle balsamic notes, tobacco leaf, some licorice, and a distinct peppery edge. With aeration, gentle vanilla and cocoa notes from the oak aging also emerge.

On the palate, the cuvée is medium-bodied, with precise acidity and silky tannins that have integrated well during the 14-month barrique aging. Marzemino brings red freshness and floral accents, Sangiovese provides the acidic tension, and Cabernet Sauvignon contributes structure to the mid-palate. The finish is long, spicy, and surprisingly cool for a red wine from the relatively warm southern Lombardy region.

Even those expecting a powerful Cabernet will find the wine too light and too cool. This cuvée is also not the right choice for pure lovers of heavy Primitivo styles. The bottle remains lean and acidic, more in the style of a North Italian Bardolino Superiore than a South Italian heavyweight.

With Pasta, Mushrooms, and Grilled Meat

Serve the cuvée at 16 to 18 °C in a medium-sized Bordeaux glass with sufficient surface area for aeration. Half an hour of decanting before the first sip does not harm younger bottles and opens up the fruit-spice axis.

At the table, the wine pairs well with classic Italian main courses featuring red fruit or dark spice. Tagliatelle al ragù bolognese, penne all'arrabbiata, and wild boar ragout with polenta pair beautifully with it. A beef carpaccio with arugula and Parmesan or grilled lamb chops with rosemary potatoes also find their match here. It also shows strength with mushroom dishes. Porcini tagliatelle, stuffed mushrooms with pine nuts, or a creamy mushroom soup complement its earthy depth. In autumn, it harmonizes particularly well with roasted chestnuts, braised savoy cabbage, or a classic Sauerbraten in red wine sauce with raisins and gingerbread. For the cheese course, it accompanies ripe Pecorino, a robust mountain cheese with honey, or a medium-aged Comté. It also showcases its full range with antipasti featuring sun-dried tomatoes, marinated artichokes, and mild ham.

From experience: The young vintage already benefits from an hour of air in the decanter. Those who can age it for a few years will be rewarded with a finer integration of tannins and a deeper spice. Once opened and stoppered, the bottle will easily keep for two to three days in a cool room. For a cross-tasting, we recommend the denser Amarone Pietro dal Cero 2018 and the previous vintage Ronchedone 2022 from the same house.

A Cuvée against the Lugana Cliché

Cà dei Frati is known as a white wine house. Lugana, Pratto, Brolettino — the famous labels of the Dal Cero family are white. With Ronchedone, the house has provided a deliberate answer to the expectation that Lugana cannot produce serious red wines. The wine is made from grapes grown partly on their own vineyards and partly on neighboring ones. The cuvée combines three very different personalities in one bottle. This shows that the morainic terroir of the southern shore can also yield a distinct profile under a red banner.

Vinification takes place in several stages. First, a long maceration fermentation in stainless steel tanks extracts color and initial tannins. The wine then ages for 14 months in barrique, some in new, the rest in used barrels. This blend gives the wine spice without dominant vanilla or toast notes. Thus, the varietal character of the cuvée remains in the foreground, while the wood develops its depth in the background. This is followed by at least 10 months of bottle aging. Only after this time does the wine leave the house — a maturation period unusually long for the Italian IGT segment.

The three grape varieties each contribute their own accents. Marzemino is the old regional variety of Trentino, known for floral tones and bright, cherry-like fruit. Mozart already immortalized it in the opera Don Giovanni with the line "Versa il vino! Eccellente Marzemino." Sangiovese is the acidic and structural backbone of Tuscany, providing the framework. Cabernet Sauvignon, used in smaller doses, brings the necessary tannic density for aging. Over the years, these tannins form a significantly silkier texture and fully integrate into the fruit. Together, the result is a wine that is neither typically Veneto nor typically Tuscany — but possesses its own distinct Lake Garda-Lombardy signature.

A Red Wine for Uncomplicated Evenings

What makes this cuvée special is its versatility at the table. Unlike many cuvées in its price range that commit to one style, it consciously moves between categories. It has enough freshness for a light pasta dish and enough tannin for a grilled steak. This makes it particularly suitable for evenings where different tastes come together and dishes vary. It doesn't need to be swapped between appetizer and main course, as its spectrum is broad enough to serve both. As a gift, it's a good choice for those who already know many typical Italian red wines and appreciate a wine outside the usual boxes. On your own table, it's a reliable companion for mid-week meals when the food doesn't need to be accompanied by a premium label every evening. Its price-performance ratio makes it a realistic house standard that you can even leave open without regret. At the same time, it is honest enough not to be out of place even when hosting a demanding guest.

A red wine that doesn't demand its place through loudness — but through its ability to quietly complement any meal.