Medium copper color; cherry, strawberry, black plum, blackberry, thyme on the nose; cherry, strawberry, prunes, plum, blackberry, minerality on the palate.
Dry; very flavorful darker fruits. Medium body. No noticeable tannins, mild acidity. Made with negroamaro grapes, which are almost exclusively found in Puglia, Italy (the eastern boot of Italy; Bari and Taranto are the best known cities). Negroamaro is known for producing some of Italy’s premier rosé/rosato wines. The negroamaro grapes fermented in stainless steel tanks, aged three months; no malolactic fermentation. 12.5% ABV
Li Veli is located in the Salento region, with the Adriatic Sea to the north and Ionian Sea to the south. In the first century BC, the land was inhabited by the Messapi, whose name signifies “people between two seas.” In the 7th century AD the “Limite dei greci” was built which represented the boundary between the Lombards to the north and Byzantium to the south.
The website notes the climate of the Salento region: “The climate of this area is ideal for the cultivation of the vine: the mild winter and hot and dry summer, the strong thermal excursion, with the cool night breezes mitigating the heat of the day, make this small peninsula the perfect place for the production of great wines.”
Vineyard located in commune of Cellino San Marco, province of Brindisi, the heart of quality negroamaro grape production. The “negroamaro” name has a murky etymology. An approximate translation from Italian is “dark bitter”—reflecting the grape’s dark color or black color. The grape flavors can be distinctive, but when tamed down in a rosé (rosato) they are less assertive.
Masseria is Italian for “farmhouse.” Li Veli was built by the Marquis Antonio de Viti de Marco at the end of the 19th century. The facility declined until the Falvo family revived the operation beginning in 1999. The Falvos already had made a name in for themselves in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano around the town of Montepulciano and Vin Santo in Tuscany. The Falvos brought their imagination and expertise to the Puglia project. Today’s winery and vineyards have been owned by the brothers Edoardo and Alfredo Falvo since 2008. They were joined by a cousin, Alessandro, in 2018. The Puglia winery produces 350,000 bottles a year.
Masseria Li Veli Torrerose Negroamaro Rosato Salento IGT 2022 is soft with assertive, savory negroamaro grape flavors. This is no bashful rosé. There even is a flash of bitterness on the finish, not something you expect with pink wine. Pair with appetizers, antipasti; simple fish dishes; salmon steaks with citrus dressing; shellfish; salads; slow-baked lamb; pasta dishes; spicy foods; Mexican and Tex Mex; vegetarian fare. Cheese—goat and sheep’s milk cheeses; hard, sharp cheese; parmesan, pecorino. $22-24
