Bonarda dell’Oltrepo Pavese (2021) - Dellafiore Roberto

The Bonarda of the Oltrepò Pavese (Croatina) is the emblematic wine of Lombard tables, often associated with the traditional cooking of Pavia and Lodi. It has historically been made in a lightly sparkling version, but Dellafiore prefers a still, more structured style.

The appellation: Bonarda dell’Oltrepò Pavese DOC

The Bonarda dell’Oltrepò Pavese DOC is an appellation devoted to one of the most representative red wines of southern Lombardy, in particular of the hillside area of the Oltrepò Pavese, in the province of Pavia. Contrary to what the name might suggest, it is not based on the Piedmontese Bonarda grape (Croatina or Uva Rara), but on Croatina as a single variety, which in the Oltrepò is traditionally called precisely Bonarda. It is a wine with a marked territorial personality, usually offered in a lightly sparkling version, with generous fruit, easy drinkability and a popular soul, but it can also be made in a still, more structured version.

What to eat with Bonarda dell’Oltrepo Pavese

Who makes it: Dellafiore Roberto

Dellafiore Roberto is an independent, artisan winery in the heart of Oltrepò Pavese, born from the vision of a grower who has chosen the most honest and least tamed way of telling the story of his own land. Roberto works passionately on a few hectares of vineyard, farmed without chemicals, and vinifies naturally, following minimal-intervention principles: spontaneous fermentations, no fining, no filtration and minimal or no sulphur additions.

The vine of Bonarda dell’Oltrepo Pavese

Croatina

Croatina is a black grape variety native to northern Italy, grown mainly in Lombardy (above all in the Oltrepò Pavese) and in eastern Piedmont, where it is often confused with the Piedmontese Bonarda (which is in fact Uva Rara). It is a generous, rustic grape, valued for its richness of colour, its fruity profile and its ability to give lively, fresh and convivial wines, but also more structured and long-lived reds when vinified with care.

Bonarda dell’Oltrepo Pavese: the Oltrepò Pavese area

Climate: Continental

Altitude: Low to mid altitude (200–500 m above sea level)

Soil: Clay

Geographical setting: Hilly

Profile of Bonarda dell’Oltrepo Pavese

Primary aromas: Cherry, Berries, Plum

Secondary aromas: Cherries, Berries, Spices

Tertiary aromas: Leather

Tasting notes: This red wine shows a lively ruby colour with purple reflections. On the nose there are fruity notes of cherry and raspberry, together with a delicate scent of red flowers. In the mouth it shows pleasant freshness and a certain salinity, balanced by well-integrated tannins. It is a medium-bodied wine, with a long finish recalling red fruit. Perfect paired with meat dishes and aged cheeses.