2021 Cantrina "Zerdì" Rosso Benaco Bresciano IGT

REGION

Benaco is the Latin name for Lake Garda, in Valtènesi. An elevated plateau, formed by what the glaciers left behind. Cantrina is a little farm settlement in Bedizzole, where Cristina Inganni and Diego Lavo started their winery of the same name in 1999.

VARIETAL

Rebo. You haven't heard of it, and neither have I, mainly because almost no one grows it. It's a cross between Merlot and Teroldego, bred at a research station in Trentino in 1948. Basically it’s a Merlot that can handle a hot climate: later ripening, more freshness.

NOSE

Plum. Blackberry and cherry. Cracked black pepper and dried herbs. Bing, bang, boom.

PALATE

It’s giving a savory, almost salty palate, with, as Sonia always says, body-ody-ody. It’s a fuller red to kick off the fall weather, with tannins smooth enough to drink it with or without food.

WINEMAKING NOTES

Two hectares planted in 1998 on red clay. They harvest late, end of September into mid October, to let the grapes overripen a little bit. Two weeks of fermentation in steel, then two years in large casks. The wood is there for texture, not flavor. 4,800 bottles made. Organic since 2014.

PAIRING

Braised short ribs, roast pork, something hearty. It's October - time to bust out the crock-pot and make something that takes all afternoon.

STORYTIME

Rebo is named after the man who bred it. Rebo Rigotti, a botanist in Trentino who crossed two vines by hand and wrote down the parents: Merlot and Marzemino. For decades that was the makeup, until they tested the DNA. Merlot, yes. Marzemino, nope. The other parent was Teroldego.

So, how did Rebo get his name? Born in the late 19th century to a peasant family, the story is that his father gave him the invented, alliterative name Rebo to arouse curiosity about the birth of his firstborn son, on the other hand, some of his relatives believe it is just a misspelling of the name Remo.

So you're drinking a long miscategorized grape named after a guy whose own name might be a typo.

Enjoy!