Calalenta Merlot Rosato

Farnese Vini — the Ortona-based cooperative-turned-négociant that reshaped value Abruzzo in the early 2000s — produces Calalenta as a direct-press rosato from Merlot grown on the Adriatic coastal strip of Abruzzo, where sandy-clay soils and the moderating sea breeze compress the diurnal range and keep natural acidity intact through ripening. The coastal plain sits at low elevation, and the free-draining sandy component prevents waterlogging while the clay fraction retains just enough moisture to avoid heat stress during summer. Direct pressing with minimal skin contact extracts the pale copper-salmon hue without phenolic grip, and fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel preserves primary fruit aromatics and locks in freshness. What separates this expression from the region's dominant Montepulciano-based rosati is the choice of Merlot as the sole variety — an uncommon move in Abruzzo that delivers softer red-fruit character and a rounder mid-palate compared to the more tannic, darker Cerasuolo style. Drink young, within one to two years of vintage, to capture the primary fruit at its most vivid.