2022 Masciarelli Colline Teatine Rosato IGT
It’s 94 degrees here in the Mojave desert at this year’s Bequinox, LA’s regional Burning Man event. This morning we strolled Seraphim Ranch just north of California City in the middle of nowhere and found old friends at the Merry Mad Tea Party where we had iced butterfly flower tea and we made new friends at Cat Butt Camp where they served mimosas and bacon and celebrated Caturday.
When we got back to our camp set up on the outskirts of out 1k member community, I enjoyed a chunk of marinated grilled tritip with a side of veggie chips and a glass of Masciarelli Rosato. It’s Rosé Day, and a nearby camp called Filament is spinning Sade for an event they call “Sade and Rosé in Lingerie.”
I’m actually now sitting in a hot pink and orange lounge chair sipping rosato, I’m wearing lingerie (and bike shorts!), and I’m listening to Sade while I gaze out at the creosote dotted desert and finish this post about roses and rosato from Masciarelli. Don’t get me wrong– it’s hot under the awning of my vw van, but with this rosato, I’m feeling pretty chill– even if my laptop is not and it’s running low on battery!!
Roses at Masciarelli in Abruzzo
I actually have a whole post coming up about visiting Masciarelli, plus pairings there in their castle with a bunch of Masciarelli wines, plus pairings we did at the dinner there, and additional info from a ZOOM I attended. Masciarelli produces 2.2 million bottles of wine, with the ability to increase to 2.5
million which means their wines are widely available around the world. In fact, several wines were part of my VinItaly wine ambassador course.
But for today, I thought I’d go with the idea that pictures of roses are worth a thousand words about rosato, especially on a hot day when there is art to be made and found and friends too and they’re not just playing Sade but Thievery Corporation and some of my other favorite tunes too!
So here’s 900 words and time for us all to chill and enjoy the pretty pictures! Hopefully with a rosato or Cerasuolo in hand!! Cheers!
wine writers Terry Nozick and James Melendez behind her at Masciarelli with roses in Abruzzo
Masciarelli’s vineyards and roses in Abruzzo
Masciarelli’s vineyards, roses, olive trees in bloom in Abruzzo
sunset and roses at Masciarelli’s castle in Abruzzo
Masciarelli’s castle and more roses in Abruzzo
Rosé aka Rosato Wine
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2022 Masciarelli Colline Teatine Rosato IGT
Menu
- Apertivo:
castelvano olives, speck, salami, calabrese, mushroom brie, parmesan, Basque cheese - Strawberries on spring greens
minced mint, walnuts, lemon ricotta with Masciarelli balsamic, Familia Febo olive oil, Marina Cvetić finishing salt
2022 Masciarelli Colline Teatine Rosato IGT
2022 Masciarelli Colline Teatine Rosato IGT
ABV: 13%
SRP: $14
Grapes: Montepulciano (farmed sustainably and transitioning to organic)
Importer: Vintus LLC
Masciarelli is transitioning to organic viticulture but they say with the extent and diversity of Masciarelli’s
vineyards, this is a gradual, step-by-step process.
The family purchased the seventeenth century Castello di Semivicoli in 2004, and after
extensive renovations, it opened as a hotel in 2009, and we enjoyed a sunset dinner and tasting there in June 2023. Next time I get to Abruzzo I hope I get to stay longer than a sunset and check it out! They also have a number of artworks which I’ll discuss next time.
Appearance: Ballerina pink, clear, platinum rim, deeper than a Provence rose
Aroma: Herbs, minerals, rose geranium, red fruit, cherry, raspberry, cranberry flinty, outside in spring, smells like the vineyard in June when I visited.
Palate: Tart cherry, raspberry, cranberry, kefir lime on the finish, dry but has a sweet watermelon juice flavor.
Pairing: Parmesan brings out the fruit in the wine and going back to parm brings the salty nuttiness in the cheese. Great with the speck, not dry at all with food, most like ham so try a ham sandwich, works with spice in Calabrese means it could work with tacos, chicken mole, mushroom brie brings out sweetness and the earthy mushrooms also works, works with Basque cheese, pairs with many flavors well, great with olive — salt and sweet, truffle salami is a bit heavy. Salad with these lemon macerated strawberries is absolutely delicious with the rose — finishing salt pops and contracts with the other flavors and the wine.
On a subsequent picnic lunch, it was a wonderful accompanied by tritip and veggie chips. I would have also loved it with a chicken salad or a caprese salad.
BONUS WINE Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo!
2022 Villa Gemma Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC Superiore $24
ABV: 14%
SRP: $24
Grapes: Montepulciano
Importer: Vintus
If you’re looking for something a bit more substantial, but still a rosato style try Cerasuolo.
Appearance: Very pretty pink, cotton candy, cherry soda, very pale pink rim
Aroma: Cherry, cherry phosphate, cotton candy, fresh Santa Rosa plum, pennyroyal, pine, we wanted to continue contemplating the aroma but had to move on to the palate
Palate: Tart cherry, wild mountain strawberry, wild mountain raspberry, cherry blossom, lavender,
Pairing: Amazing with the sun dried tomato tart, also great with the La Tur cheese, fabulous with the rosemary tomato skewers, great with the fennel salami and pecorino.
I have many more wonderful pictures to share about these wines and out visit to stay tuned and subscribe!
Also: Fond of Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo? check out this one from organic Famiglia Febo!
Masciarelli’s castle, vineyards and roses at sunset in Abruzzo, June 2023
wine predator.............. gwendolyn alley 