Fabri is the new rosé wine made entirely from Apulian Nero di Troia grapes that the De Corato family dedicates to Fabrizio, who died prematurely last year.
Since 1950, the De Corato family, owners of Cantina Rivera, has firmly linked its name to the history of quality oenology in Puglia and is the interpreter of an authentic territory with a strong personality. “Experimenters by tradition,” in unexpected times the De Corato family had sensed the great winemaking potential of the hilly area dominated by the Castel del Monte, in the countryside of Andria, on the plateau between the Murgia hills and the Adriatic Sea, the land of the Nero di Troia.
A bit of history
The adventure began when Giuseppe De Corato in 1921 purchased the vast estate, from which the winery takes its name, that had belonged for centuries to the noble Rivera family of L’Aquila, whose progenitor Pietro was captain of Emperor Frederick II of Swabia, who so loved these lands.
Since its inception, it has been produced a rosé from Bombino Nero, few know that marketing started almost simultaneously with Leone de Castris’ Five Roses and that Rivera’s rosé debuted in the film
La Ciociara
. In the company, the shot of the frame in which a very young Sofia Loren can be seen preparing a tasty spaghetti dish with the Rivera-labeled bottle at her side. In 1955, Professor Piero Garoglio wrote, “I will tell you that the Rosé Riserva speciale 1951 I liked it, in a sober and elegant guise it shows that in Apulia the right way is being followed by some to represent it, not only as a typical area of blending wines but as a mature region of fine wines.”
Always the Rosé
The Rosé, despite its age, is a label more current than ever; it could be considered the forerunner of Pungirosa, after a soft pressing, the grapes are macerated for 18 hours to extract the right color and aromatic substances from the skins. Dry, light and fruity, it is an all-day wine to be served well chilled.
The common thread running through Rivera wines is the winemaking style that rigorously interprets the different terroirs and grape varieties, while maintaining a common and personal balance, elegance and drinkability for the pleasure of discerning consumers. A style that brings together a bond with tradition, attention to the evolutions of technique and the market while maintaining an excellent quality/price ratio, think of the Falcone blend of Nero di Troia and other grape varieties.
The word from Seastiano De Corato
“
Our winery has 70 years of history, at its inception brand promotion was disconnected from the territory, there was no market and thinking about quality wine in bottles was a utopia –
says Sebastiano De Corato, owner and commercial director -. In our case there was only Rivera. In the 1970s there was a general shakeup, the first Docs were born, and a phase of general renewal began. Ours has been a journey in small steps“.
Fabri the new born
Recently launched was Fabri, a new 100% Nero di Troia rosé, a tribute to the area and to his son and brother Fabrizio de Corato, who died prematurely last year. The grapes come from the company’s new property located in contrada Monte Carafa 240 meters above sea level, at the foot of the hill with which the limestone massif of the Murgia begins, there where the Carafa family, dukes of Andria, had their country residence. The soil is deep limestone-tufaceous, of ancient marine sedimentation typical of the Premurgian plateau, covered with a thin clay layer. The novelty lies in aging for 4 months-before bottling-. in terracotta amphorae and stoneware barrels., where malolactic fermentation took place.
“The success of a wine depends on pleasantness and immediacy – De Corato explains – Nero di Troia is a little-known grape variety, does not quickly win over consumers, expresses itself better in elegance and structure, maintains its character and stands out without imitation“. Also added to the rich list of labels already produced are the metodo classico from Bombino Bianco and Bombino Nero, two typical varieties of the Alta Murgia, with a 24-month rest on the lees.
TO READ THE WINE DESCRIPTIONS, WITH SCORE AND AVERAGE SHELF PRICE, CLICK ON THE TABS BELOW.
TASTING NOTES
