Bardolino

Bardolino is a light, dry red from Veneto in northern Italy, made mainly from Corvina, with other local grapes often joining the party. Expect juicy cherry, strawberry and raspberry with gentle spice and barely-there tannins. It's an easy-drinking red that's brilliant with pizza, tomato pasta, chicken, antipasti and lighter Italian dishes.

Taste:

Light, fruity and very easy to get along with.

Bardolino is typically dry and light-bodied, with fresh acidity, soft tannins and plenty of bright red fruit. Expect red cherry, strawberry and raspberry, often with hints of violet, herbs, pepper and gentle spice.

It's much lighter than big reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec or Shiraz, and some Bardolino can even be served slightly chilled.

If your usual complaint about red wine is that it's too heavy, too tannic or just a bit much, Bardolino could be right up your street.

Food Pairings:

Bardolino and casual Italian food are a bit of a dream team.

Pizza is an obvious place to start. Try it with Margherita, mushroom, prosciutto, pepperoni or vegetable pizza, where its fresh acidity works brilliantly with tomato sauce and melted cheese.

It's also a great match for tomato-based pasta dishes such as spaghetti bolognese, lasagne, penne arrabbiata, pasta with meatballs or a simple tomato and basil pasta.

For something lighter, try Bardolino with roast chicken, grilled chicken, pork, Italian sausages, charcuterie, antipasti, grilled vegetables or a tomato and mozzarella salad.

On the cheese front, mozzarella, Parmesan, mild Cheddar and young Italian cheeses are all good bets.

Basically, this is the red to reach for when dinner is delicious but really doesn't need to become an occasion.

Similar Wines:

If you enjoy Bardolino, Valpolicella is a natural next step. Both come from Veneto and commonly feature Corvina, but Valpolicella can offer a little more body and structure.

Beaujolais and Gamay are great options if it's Bardolino's light, juicy red-fruit character you love, while Dolcetto keeps things Italian with a little more depth.

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More About Bardolino:

Bardolino comes from vineyards around the eastern shores of Lake Garda in Veneto, northern Italy. It's usually based on Corvina, alongside grapes such as Rondinella and Corvinone – varieties you'll also find in neighbouring Valpolicella.

While nearby Amarone is famous for being rich, concentrated and powerful, Bardolino heads firmly in the opposite direction. The focus is on freshness, fragrance and fruit, and the wines are generally made to be enjoyed relatively young.

You'll also come across Bardolino Chiaretto, the area's rosé style. So if Bardolino already feels like summer in red-wine form, apparently they decided to take things one step further.