FIVE ROSES IGT 2012 LEONE DE CASTRIS
This wonderful wine produced in Puglia in Salento, made by the winery LEONE DE CASTRIS, owes its name to a family vineyard called CINQUE ROSE.
Legend has it that the vineyard took its name from the fact that for several generations the DE CASTRIS family had five children and therefore five roses.
It was the first Rosé wine bottled in ITALY – it was the year 1943 and our nation was at war, so you can imagine the difficulties encountered in producing and bottling this wine.
The name CINQUE ROSE was translated into FIVE ROSES at the request of General Charles Paoletti, responsible for supplies for the Allied forces, who after the war wanted to take away a large shipment of rosé wine bottles of Cinque Rose, on the condition that the name be changed to be more appropriate for the American market – "Five Roses" indeed.
The winery continues to produce this rosé wine from Negroamaro grapes at 90% and 10% Malvasia Nera.
With 7,000 vines per hectare, grown on sandy and medium-textured soils, for a yield of 75 quintals per hectare.
After maceration in contact with the skins (technical term: pellicular) and static decantation, the must is fermented for several days in stainless steel vats at an average temperature of 15 degrees.
Negroamaro is a grape variety typical of Puglia and is cultivated particularly in Salento.
Its name originates from the color of the grape and the wine – it is simply a repetition of the word "black" in two languages: niger in Latin and mavros in ancient Greek (maru in dialect).
Negroamaro has been cultivated since ancient times; the cultivations of the southern area of Puglia, in fact, since the 6th century BC, were characterized almost exclusively by this grape variety. This variety finds its main viticultural basin in the provinces of Brindisi and Lecce, where today it represents approximately 72% of the planted vineyard surface.
Returning to the wine Five Roses, it presents visually as crystalline, with a vibrant Cerasuolo pink color, consistent in the glass.
On the nose it opens fruity and floral with notes of cherry, strawberry, redcurrant and small fresh red fruits combined with a delicate wild rose.
On the palate it reveals itself as dry, warm and soft, with good freshness and mineral sapidity, which nicely balance this wine of good structure and fine quality.
To be sipped at a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius and to be paired with fish dishes baked or grilled, or with Italian-style antipasti, white meats, or why not with fish carpaccio.
Excellent value for money, ranging in wine shops for the reference vintage from €8 up to €10.
In closing, as always I recommend you try it. Cheers and bubbles to all...
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