Rotari hails from Trentodoc, a Northern Italian appellation centred around the City of Trento and known for its Traditional Method white and rosé sparkling wines.
Fizz Fact: the appellation was the second of if it’s kind (after the Champagne) to be created to ensure quality and distinction in its sparkling wines! 🥂
Early founders of what is now Trendodoc wanted to distinguish themselves from Prosecco, which is produced not too far away. And so, no Charmat Tanks nor Glera grapes are used in the making of Rotari Brut and Rotari Brut Rosé – as only the Tradtional Method and Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Blanc grapes are permitted.
Rotari Brut
Rotari has vineyards in the beautiful Dolomites, and chooses grapes from high altitude sites which preserve freshness and acidity in their wines.
The 2015 iteration of the Rotari Brut is made from Chardonnay, which adds richness and a strong backbone to this Traditional Method wine. The 24 months spent sur lie adds complexity, and plenty of brioche and toast on the nose and palate. In addition to these notes, you’ll find golden apple, and gentle florality which come together in a delightful and refreshing way. And yes… you just know we had to Sabre this bottle! 😎
Rotari Brut Rosé
The vivacious companion of the Rotari Brut, the Rotari Brut Rosé is elegant, dare we say seductive and everything you could want in a Traditional Method pink bubble. This 2015 sparkler made from a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir was disgorged just in 2020, meaning it spent a good 5 years in bottle. So, what you will experience is a more complex and yet refined rosé, brimming with pithy grapefruit, plenty of autolytic character (‘toasty notes’ as they say) and crisp, underripe field melon (or as Jeff noted, watermelon Jolly Rancher without the sugar).
Those strawberry notes you would normally get on the nose with a more youthful sparkling of this kind have mellowed out – and it’s a good thing! They appear on the palate though, in the form of strawberry cream (remember those Strawberry and Yoghurt Campino candies your grandmother had in her pantry?). From the dancing bubbles in the glass, to the nose and palate, you will be transported with this lovely sparkler … and we are so happy to see its vibrant acidity and beautiful perlage hold up still!
Brimming with Value
Let us set up the value proposition that the Rotari Brut and Brut Rosé provide: at a mere $19.95 at the LCBO, these Traditional Method sparklers stands at a similar price point to many Prosecco’s, but delivers so much more complexity and richness on the nose and palate!
So next time you’ve got a $20 bill in your pocket and you’re checking out the sparkling section at the LCBO, consider this delightful traditional method wine from Rotari, in place of a Prosecco or Cava. You won’t be disappointed!
The Rotari Brut is available at the LCBO under Vintages No. 15679.
The Rotari Brut Rosé is available at the LCBO under Vintages No. 16601.