Medium copper color; strawberry, raspberry, citrus on the nose; strawberry, raspberry, red plum, melon, white peach, grapefruit, saline on the palate.
Dry; bright with vivid fruit; good acidity; soft texture; 100% montepulciano grapes, harvested early. Fermented and aged four months in stainless steel. No oak. No noticeable tannin. Filtered with diatomaceous earth and membrane filters. Viscous, luxurious. 13% ABV
Gioacchino Garofoli’s Kómaros rosato (Italian for “pink” or “rose”) is made from vines in the same vineyards as Garofoli’s Grosso Agontano Cònero DOCG wine, but these vines are managed specifically for the rosato and are harvested earlier to maximize acidity and fruit. The name Kómaroswhich was also the Greek name for Mount Conerocomes from the Greek word for arbutus or madrone trees that are common in this area.
Founded in 1871, Garofoli is one of the oldest family-owned wineries in the Marche. It began when Antonio Garofolio began producing wine for pilgrims coming to the famous Basilica della Santa Casa in Loreto. Antonio’s son, Gioacchino, founded the winery in 1901. His sons, Franco and Dante, succeeded him after World War II. They assembled 128 acres of vineyards in the zones of Montecarotto (Jesi area) and Paterno and Piancarda (Mt. Conero area), and Castelfidardo.
The winery is now run by the fourth and fifth generations—brothers Carlo and Gianfranco Garofoli and their three children Gianluca, Caterina, and Beatrice. The winery is noted for its verdicchio, where they were among the first in the Marche to reduce yields and experiment with different aging techniques. They pioneered such practices as aging verdicchio wines, using 100% verdicchio rather than blending, using standard wine bottles rather than the old-time “amphora”-type bottles. The Marche region also is noted for montepulciano, the grapes used for this effort.
Garofoli grows montepulciano grapes at two of its vineyards. Paterno is 12.5 acres. Massignano is 52 acres. Both vineyards are located in the commune of Ancona. Both vineyards use the spurred cordon training system.
Marche stretches along Italy’s eastern coast. Umbria lies to its west, Abruzzo to its south. The climate in Marche varies north-to-south. Its coastal plains roll into hills that become the Apennine Mountains, which run the length of the country. The best Marche wines come from montepulciano and sangiovese grapes. The local verdicchio that the Garofolis are noted for makes crisp, light white wines. The Marche region leads Italy in per-capita wine consumption.
Gioacchino Garofoli Kòmaros Rosato Marche IGT 2022 is fun, light, fruity delight. Marvelous, unctuous mouthfeel juxtaposes with some grapefruit tanginess and salinity, especially later in mid-palate and finish. Decadent, delightful, versatile wine from a major player in the Marche region of east-central Italian coast. Works as an aperitif. Pair with shellfish; lean fish; freshwater fish; chicken; pork; vegetarian fare; charcuterie board; appetizers; fried food. Cheese—mild and soft cheese; fresh goat cheese; cantal, brie, mozzarella, feta, cheddar, baby swiss. $16-20
US distributor Garofoli website
