WINE STORY A hundred years after its founding in 1860 the Chiarli family debuted a new wine, appropriately named “Centenario.” It used the Charmat method of effervescent winemaking that Chiarli had introduced to Lambrusco production area a few years earlier. Centenario new wine for a new age showcased the slightly sweeter side of Lambrusco. The wine is amabile, literally “lovable,” a designation for wines that are sweet but not so sweet they can only be served with dessert. It’s produced with Lambrusco Grasparossa, a grape variety with deep color and high natural acidity that can counter the sugar content. The result is a well-balanced, intense red, soft, lightly effervescent wine that is indeed lovable.

VINEYARDS & VINIFICATION

VINEYARD LOCATION:Cialdini estate (commune of Castelvetro)

ELEVATION:90 meters

SOILS:Alluvial soil with coarse gravel lenses covered by silt

TRAINING SYSTEM:Geneva Double Curtain

FARMING PRACTICES:Phytosanitary defense with integrated pest management

AGE OF VINES: 23 years (planted 1995)

YIELD: Up to 18,000 kg per hectare

GRAPES: 100% Lambrusco Grasparossa

TYPE OF YEAST:Selected

POST-FERMENTATION PROCEDURES:Cold stabilization with lees contact for 1 month, followed by blending

SECOND FERMENTATION:In autoclaves (pressurized tanks)

MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION:Partial, in tank before second fermentation

FILTRATION:Crossflow filter

BOTTLE AGING TIME:1-2 weeks

PRODUCTION:55,000 bottles per year

VEGAN:No

TECHNICAL DATA

TOTAL ACIDITY:7 g/l

EXTRACT:18 g/l

ALCOHOL: 8%

RESIDUAL SUGAR: 48 g/l

91 POINTS, James Suckling formally of Wine Spectator.“Lots of rose petals and dark fruit with orange peel. Fruity and flavorful. Fine bubbles. Fresh finish. Delicious. Drink now.”