Gelsaia – Piave Malanotte DOCG

Red

Abv 16%

Serving Temp. 18-20 °C | Storage Temp. 13-15 °C

Raboso Piave is a grape variety cultivated for over 500 years, becoming the leading indigenous species and the favourite wine of the Venetian Republic, known as ”the black wine for Venice”. The name Raboso is thought to be derived from the Italian word rabbioso, which means angry; this could be a reference to the aggressive tannins and acid structure of wines made from this variety. However it’s more plausible the grape takes its name from the Raboso river (Piave) which flows through Veneto’s eastern Treviso province. Due to its strong character and superb resistance to aging as well as transport, it was known among travellers as “wine of travel” or in their native language “vin de viajo”. “Raboso Piave is a sort of throughbred, hard to tame”, this is how Giorgio Cecchetto defines this grape variety, a grape that reveals its character already in the vineyard, with a very long growing season. it is the first variety to germinate, and one of the last to be harvested. That makes it unique, almost extraordinary among all Piave’s grape varieties, its strong and hard nature might be the reason why it was disregarded for some time and a winemaker must be patient and ready to accept the challenge if he wants to create something special.

This is exactly what Giorgio Cecchetto achieved with the Gelsaia Piave Malanotte, the first red wine to receive the DOCG denomination in the Treviso area. Since its first release in 1997 the Gelsaia has only been produced in the best years, with the 2016 vintage representing the 11th ever produced and will certainly be remembered as one of the best thanks to the optimal grapes harvest conditions. Vinified in oak barrels, with 15% of the grapes dried/raisin for 35 days in wooden crates (regulations impose a minimum of 15% and a maximum of 30%), Gelsaia Piave Malanotte DOCG is a wine with unique body, structure and personality, with acquired roundness and elegance. It has interesting set of fruit aromas and a complete bouquet, opening more and more every time it is brought close to the nose.

A curiosity: its name derives from mulberry (Gelso), that at the beginning of the last century in the Treviso area was used to train or support the vine. This form of cultivation was called Bellussera (from the Bellussi family).