05 Jun Please The Palate Wine of the Week: 2022 Ivaldi Dario Susbel Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG

My love for Brachetto dates back to the beginning of my love affair with wine. Way before working in wine was ever on my mind, I was living in Piedmont, Italy and a friend handed me a glass of a vibrant, light-colored red wine. The wine smelled like strawberries and roses, it was slightly sweet, and it was slightly effervescent. I fell in love. Brachetto to me is happiness in a glass. Sadly, it is harder to find in the US, so when I find one, like the 2022 Ivaldi Dario Susbel Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG, I get very happy. That is why the Ivaldi Brachetto is the Please The Palate wine of the week.

About Ivaldi Dario

Ivaldi is a small production winery in the Monferrato area of Piedmont, Italy. With a 100 year history and four generations, the farmhouse was originally built by great-grandfather Guido. Today 4th generation owner and enologist Andrea Ivaldi runs the family winery and vineyards. Everything is done by hand and they craft their wines in a sustainable and ecologically ethical manner. They are certified with SQNPI for their sustainable farming practices.

About Brachetto

Brachetto is a black-skinned Italian wine grape variety from Piedmont, Italy. It produces a light-bodied, low-alcohol wine that is typically frizzante (frizzy) or spumante (sparkling). Rarely you can find it as a dry wine. Brachetto is a highly aromatic wine with perfumed aromas of wild strawberries and rose petals. It is a wine that has a noticeable level of sweetness but it matched by acidity. Brachetto is a wine best served with a slight chill and consumed when it is young.

There is a legend about the aphrodisiac abilities of Brachetto that dates back to Roman times. It is said that there was a wine called “Vino Acquense” (wine from Acqui) that the Roman Emperor brought with him to attract Cleopatra and her court. And in the 1800s, Brachetto was referred to as a “Vino Celebe” which meant it was a prestigious wine.

Tasting Notes

The Brachetto spends three day on the skins for color. The wine offers aromas of wild strawberry, roses, and hibiscus. On the palate, the wine has structure and tannins, as well as fresh acidity that balances the slight sweetness. The effervescence is mild and your palate is left clean. There is no cloying or overpowering sweetness. It is fruity and fresh with a long finish making you want more.

Food Pairing

Brachetto is a common wine of choice with desserts. I enjoyed it with a very simple pairing with fresh strawberries. But you can also enjoy it with the traditional Italian Easter cake, hazelnut chocolate tart, panna cotta, and more. Brachetto even pairs with savory dishes like goat cheese and vitello tonnato (cold, sliced veal with creamy mayonnaise-like sauce). Brachetto is also great for just sipping on its own. It will put a smile on your face, like it does mine.

Where To Purchase

The Ivaldi Dario Susbel Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG retails for $19.99. It is imported by VeroVino Craft Wines and can be purchased directly from the VeroVino website.