What wine is Salento Rosato IGT 'Five Roses Anniversario' 2024 - Leone de Castris

The Salento Rosato IGT "Five Roses Anniversario" 2024 - Leone de Castris perfectly embodies the Salento rosé style: fresh, fragrant, and with a strong character. It balances the delicacy of a white wine with the structure of a red, offering a lively and harmonious tasting experience. Produced by the historic Leone de Castris brand, it is an iconic wine, created in 1993 to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the famous Five Roses, the first Italian rosé to be bottled and marketed. The "Anniversario" version represents its most refined evolution, a symbol of Salento's oenological excellence.

Vintage details

The 2024 vintage in Salento was characterized by a mild and breezy climate, with a balanced summer and little rainfall. Temperature excursions between day and night favored a regular ripening of Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera di Lecce grapes, yielding rich and aromatic fruit. Yields per hectare remained contained, benefiting aromatic concentration and freshness, ensuring a particularly balanced and pleasantly savory rosé.

Winemaking and aging

The vinification of Salento Rosato IGT "Five Roses Anniversario" 2024 - Leone de Castris takes place using the saignée method, which consists of drawing off a portion of the must during the maceration of red grapes to delicately extract color and aromas, while maintaining elegance and finesse. Fermentation occurs at controlled temperatures (18-20°C) to preserve the delicate fruity aromas. This is followed by a brief maturation in steel tanks, for about a month, which allows the wine to refine without losing its natural freshness.

Tasting notes

Color

Visually, the wine presents a brilliant, luminous, and crystalline intense cherry red color, a distinctive sign of its type and the quality of the vinification.

Nose

The bouquet is broad and fragrant: notes of red cherry, wild strawberry, and pomegranate stand out, followed by light floral notes and mineral hints that complete its aromatic complexity.

Palate

On the palate, it is distinguished by its freshness and lively acidity, balanced by good softness. The sip is savory, agile, and consistent with the fruity sensations perceived on the nose. The finish is persistent, clean, and pleasantly dry.

What dishes to pair with Salento Rosato IGT 'Five Roses Anniversario' 2024 - Leone de Castris

Versatile and convivial, this Salento rosé pairs perfectly with numerous Mediterranean dishes. Ideal with:

• seafood appetizers and crustaceans;
• fish carpaccios and tuna tartare;
• grilled vegetable dishes or summer salads;
• light white meats and dishes with fresh tomato;
• soft cheeses and goat cheeses.

It is the perfect wine to accompany an outdoor aperitif or a summer lunch with friends, thanks to its ability to combine pleasantness and personality.

Storage and aging: how to store Salento Rosato IGT 'Five Roses Anniversario' 2024 - Leone de Castris

To best preserve the freshness and aromas of this rosé, it is advisable to store it in a cool, dry place away from direct light, at a constant temperature of around 12-14°C. The Salento Rosato IGT "Five Roses Anniversario" 2024 - Leone de Castris is best enjoyed within the first 1-2 years after the harvest, when the fruity and floral notes are most lively and harmonious. Serve it chilled, around 10-12°C, to enhance its fragrance and pleasant drinkability.