Bardolino – A Wine, a Vacation Destination

What makes something special? The rich and famous tell us what where we should vacation. The elite tell us what wines we should drink mandating arbitrary numbers, 75, 80, 90, 100 points. “You must like this wine,” Pinco Pallino said so. Bardolino is a small town on the shores of Lake Garda about 15 km north of Peschiera. It is also an area where a young, fresh, and bubbly red wine is produced. Bardolino will not be included in the Travel Channel’s places to visit. The wines of Bardolino will not be on the recommended list of Robert Parker. Bardolino is not a destination for the many. The Bardolino wines are simple wines; some are rose’ and some are bubbly.

Strolling the town’s streets, one may be confused as individuals chat in German. Do not worry, the taxi driver did not mistakenly take you across the border. Lake Garda is one of the favorite destinations of the Germans and Austrians. They prefer Lake Garda because there are fewer tourists than other destinations. The Germans, in this case, are right on. Bardolino offers beautiful views, hearty foods, festive wines and great service. Excursions are easily accessible to Trentino, Verona, the numerous theme parks and the savvy traveler could spend an entire summer on the Wine Trail of Bardolino. The local consortium has 15 members. Some of them offer room and board along with tours of the vineyards and winery. Of course the local wines can also be purchased. Just during the tourist season the local wineries sell 100,000 bottles of the local nectar to visitors.

Some of the wines to taste while in the area are:

Bardolino and Bardolino Classico

Grapes: Corvina, Rondinella, Merlot and Sangiovese
Color: Ruby red tending toward garnet with aging.
Bouquet: Fruity.
Taste: Dry and slightly bitter. Not elaborate or complex but balanced. Sometimes moved.
Alcohol: 10.50% to 14%.
Acidity: 5 g/l.

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Bardolino Chiaretto and Bardolino Chiaretto Classico

Grapes: Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara
Color: Garnet.
Bouquet: Fruity.
Taste: Soft and encompassing with a slightly mineral finish. Sometimes moved.
Alcohol: 10.50% to 14%;
Acidity: 5 g /l.

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Bardolino Chiaretto Spumante

Bubbles: small, fine grain and persistent.
Color: Rose' tending toward Garnet with aging.
Bouquet: Definite perfume of fresh wine.
Taste: Soft and encompassing and slightly acidic.
Alcohol: 11.5% to 14.5%.
Acidity: 6 g/l.

Tags: Bardolino Red Wine Italian Wine Veneto Sommelier Food and Wine Travel Italy