Le Fraghe Chiaretto di Bardolino Rosato 2023

Le Fraghe is one of Veneto’s most respected winemakers, and it doesn’t matter which side of the river or lake we’re talking about. These wines have been staples in the NYC Italian restaurant scene for over a decade, but rarely made their way over to New Jersey.

We offered Le Fraghe’s stunning under $20, 94-point Bardolino last year, and to say that it was a fan-favorite would be a big understatement. The wines are so stinking solid across the board so I wasn’t crazy surprised, but you never know how a Bardolino will do! But with the success of that wine, I have no doubt that this crowd-pleasing pink will do even better.

Le Frage’s winery sits perfectly perched overlooking the shores of Lake Garda. It benefits from the protection of the Dolomite Mountains, the micro-climate of the Adige River, and the mineral-rich soil surrounding the lake. The wines Le Fraghe makes are perfect for this weather—bright, fresh, crunchy and zippy, the kind that absolutely shines when it’s served slightly chilled in a glass.

The winery is run by an Italian winemaking legend and one of the greatest female winemakers the country has ever had, Matilde Poggi. Matilde is a legitimate institution in her neck of the woods, a leading winemaker and businesswoman who has excelled at the helm of Le Fraghe for almost forty years now.