Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
Fruit comes from selected Chardonnay parcels at approximately 300–400 m, on classic chalky soils. Warm, sunlit days alternate with cool mountain air in the evening. The broader setting combines Mediterranean warmth with cooling winds from the Dolomites. The grapes are harvested entirely by hand.
Grapes
100% Chardonnay.
Vinification
After soft pressing, the must is statically clarified and fermented at a controlled 20°C. For the 2025 wine, 35% ferments in French oak barriques and remains on its lees in barrique for a further six months. The product description also identifies a smaller component fermented and matured in a large wooden barrel and another component handled in stainless steel. Final blending takes place in spring.
Ageing
The oak-fermented 35% matures on its lees in French barriques for six months. After the spring assemblage, the wine receives further bottle maturation before release.
Technical data
The 2025 wine has 13.50% alcohol, 5.7 g/L total acidity and 0.0 g/L residual sugar. Formats are 0.75 L and 1.5 L, with an estimated ageing potential of 3–5 years.
Tasting profile
Straw yellow. The complex bouquet combines fruit with citrus, orange peel, lime blossom, mineral notes and a spicy hint of tobacco. The palate balances lively freshness and racy minerality with elegance, a silky texture, notable structure and juicy length. It finishes inviting and refreshing.
Serving and pairing
Serve at 12–14°C. Pair with first courses, smoked salmon or other smoked fish, pasta—particularly with creamy sauces—and fish fried in breadcrumbs or batter. It also works as an aperitif.
Vintage notes
The 2025 harvest began early, on 27 August, and ended just over a month later. Relatively early flowering was followed by a warm, dry June and a distinctly cooler July, which helped preserve natural freshness and acidity. August provided favorable ripening conditions. Sunshine alternated with occasional rain in September toward the end of harvest, and the fruit arrived healthy and balanced.
Label / history
“Cardellino” was Elena Walch’s first wine. Its name refers to an old tale that the goldfinch—cardellino in Italian—builds its nest only among Chardonnay vines. The debut Chardonnay was dedicated to this bird and became a longstanding estate classic and a favorite at the Walch family table.
