About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
Ghes comes from Monte Garzon on the hills of Cellore d’Illasi in Val d’Illasi. The south-facing vineyard lies at 300–500 metres above sea level on pink limestone rich in clay and chalk. Planted in 2000, it is Guyot trained at 5,800 vines per hectare, with eight buds per vine. Certified-organic production yields 40–50 hl/ha, equivalent to 1–1.5 kg of grapes per vine.
Grapes
100% selected Corvina Veronese. The hand-picked fruit includes a variable proportion of the more fragrant second-flowering crop, used to accentuate freshness.
Vinification
The grapes are destemmed and softly pressed, followed by cold skin maceration and low-temperature fermentation. The wine matures in stainless steel before undergoing its second fermentation in an autoclave.
Technical data
Alcohol: 12% vol. Acidity: 6.0–7.0‰. Residual sugar: 14–18 g/L. The technical sheet classifies Ghes as Vino Spumante Rosato Brut, while the English wine description uses Extra Dry.
Tasting profile
Soft pink with fine, delicate bubbles. The bouquet combines raspberries, wild strawberries and redcurrants with a citrus accent, fresh rose petals and karkadè; another description adds wild cherry and plum. The palate is fresh, savoury and smooth, with enough structure to support the fruit and a lively finish.
Serving and pairing
Serve at 6–8°C. Ghes works as an aperitif and with crudités, fried prawns or vegetables, battered flowers filled with ricotta, seafood risotto, salt cod, sushi and sashimi.
Label / history
Ghes originated in an idea shared by Dario Pieropan and his late friend and collaborator Cesare: a Corvina sparkling rosé that would capture the variety’s youthful delicacy and freshness. The name comes from a Greek expression meaning “from the earth,” evoking the wine’s connection to its land.
