So does anybody ever drink Bardolino?

[Jenise]

Bob and I had dinner at a cozy little Italian place in downtown Vancouver the other night. The wines are all well-chosen by the one trick pony of an owner/bartender/sommelier, so I felt safe picking the cheapest red on the menu, a Bardolino at $32 which is a steal in terms of downtown Vancouver restaurant wine pricing. I don't recall the brand name but it was an 07 and delish, very balanced Italian-esque flavors with dark red fruits, savory aspects and on-point acidity. A wine I could drink every day.

But I never seem to read tasting notes on Bardolinos or otherwise see them reccomended. There are certainly none mentioned in this months Diverse Italy wine focus. Just curious if anyone ever drinks them.

I can't even recall the last time I had this wine. As far as I can remeber, it's one of the very early wines that I have ever been exposed to. in all honesty, I haven't even come across the word "Bardolino" since god-knows-when. Thanks for bringing it back.

Ramon

While it has been a while, Jenise, I used to have Bardolino quite often. As you know, advice on what wine to drink with food offen suggests that one consider the area from which the food is derived. For the food I love to eat, Bardolino can often float to the top of the list.

I drink it when I'm in Bardolino, Jenise.

Few things more pleasant than sitting on the quay on a sunny day in Bardolino eating some lake fish, or even seafood, and having a lightly chilled Bardolino. Or for me, a Bardolino Chiaretto, one of my favorites when I'm there. Nice tart bright cherry rose'.

Unfortunately, Bardolino some years ago decided to go in the direction of plonk, so there were only a handful of truly impressive producers---difficult to do much in terms of quality when you're overcropping.

Back when I was pushing Bolla (now with Banfi) I used to drink more of their Bardolino than the more popular Valpolicella. Haven't had any in a while though, as the popularity and availability of Bardo really dropped off the radar and the shelves. I understand now there's something of a mini-renaissance in Bardolino, but I'm not exactly tracking the region these days.

The best Bardo I've ever had was by Rizzardi, one of the old wine families in the area. Down in Sonoma I used to be able to get Corte Gardone, but haven't seen it up here in the PNW. It's pretty good too.

Otherwise, slim pickings.

Like Hoke, only when I'm there...

But I should


Just checked some wine lists -- Wine Society, Majestic don't list any, Waitrose has one - Recchia 2008 "cherry fruited with a juicy, almost Beaujolais simplicity..."

Most Bardolino is light, frivolous and, if decently made - fun. Best place to drink it is in the trattorias of Verona and then ordering the house Bardolino by the pichet.

As to Verona, after full days of tastings, this is the wine most appreciated by winemakers and critics and that precisely because it so easy to quaff.

A few recent tasting notes:


Tedeschi, Bardolino Classico, 2008: A traditional blend of Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara, Rossignola, Oseleta, Negrara and Dindarella grapes, this medium bodied red was aged for 1 year in Slovanian oak barrels and now shows delicious black and red fruit flavors along with generous hints of spices, chocolate and Mediterranean herbs. An excellent choice for everyday drinking, especially when accompanied by light chicken, turkey or pork dishes, especially when those contain bacon. Drink now. Score 87. (Tasted 11 Oct 2009)

Masi, Bardolino, Frescaripa, 2008: There is nothing deep or complex about Bardolino wines. Despite that, at their best they make for delightful drinking, especially with pasta, veal and bacon-based dishes. Made from a blend of Corvina, Moinara and Rondinella grapes in the Veneto area of northern Italy, this medium bodied version has a deep ruby towards garnet color, plenty of tannins and appealing black fruit and herbal aromas and flavors. Ripe, ready, delicious and meant for early drinking. Drink now – 2004. Score 86. (Tasted 11 Oct 2009)

Bola, Bardolino, Veneto, 2008: Bright ruby red in color, light in body, with berry, cherry, strawberry and citrus in flavors. Well beloved at the simple trattorias of Verona where it is almost always served lightly chilled. Meant for youthful drinking. Score 82. (Tasted 11 Oct 2009)

P.S. To Jenise: I don't care where one finds oneself in the world, paying the equivalent of $32 for a bottle of Bardolino is a sin. A liter sized pitcher in most Veneto trattorias goes for 3-4 Euros tops.

Unfortunately, In Vancouver, 3-4 Euros at the domaine means about $16-20 retail after all the BC taxes! As Jenise said, finding any decent bottle of wine in a Vancouver restaurant for $32 is almost a miracle!

[Jenise]

Unfortunately, In Vancouver, 3-4 Euros at the domaine means about $16-20 retail after all the BC taxes! As Jenise said, finding any decent bottle of wine in a Vancouver restaurant for $32 is almost a miracle!

It is indeed--and now that I see Daniel's notes I remember that it was the Masi we had at Nook. Have you been?

I have to say I have little experience with Bardolino, and what I had was not very memorable other than its simplicity. This summer, however, I am considering spending a few days in the Verona area after I am done with our program in Umbria, in hopes to explore the region where my great grandfather Faustini was from.

Quite frankly, I have not consumed Bardolino ever since finding an appreciation for good wine.

Quite frankly, I have not consumed Bardolino ever since finding an appreciation for good wine.

You have to elevate your pinkie when you say that if you want to be really snobby!

Quite frankly, I have not consumed Bardolino ever since finding an appreciation for good wine.

You have to elevate your pinkie when you say that if you want to be really snobby!

Yeah, because everyone here knows how snobby I am when it comes to wine. My comments and tasting notes are just so, uh, snobby.

Unfortunately, In Vancouver, 3-4 Euros at the domaine means about $16-20 retail after all the BC taxes! As Jenise said, finding any decent bottle of wine in a Vancouver restaurant for $32 is almost a miracle!

And that ain't all: I spent four nights in Vancouver fruitlessly searching for an Italian restaurant that had a Chianti by the glass. If I never see "Okanagan" on a label again, it will be too soon.