No one sparkling the Merlot grapes. No one, except for them, the “pioneers of the Bassa”. With the courage of passion and a drop of madness. The result is called Charme, a sparkling rosé from Merlot to drink with extreme pleasure, letting oneself be surprised by its scent of red fruits and grapefruit, and by its floral, balanced and fresh flavor. A wine that has been awarded the prestigious “The Wine Hunter Award 2023” Diploma of Excellence Red.
But let’s take a step back, what is the story of “Annafrancesca Vini e Vigneti Bio”? It all starts with two sisters, Anna and Francesca Gobbi, who before dedicating themselves to wine did something completely different: Francesca was a restorer traveling around Italy, Anna a manager at a multinational. Then the desire to create a tailor-made job, the family land that makes its call felt and the inspiration from their grandfather, who saw great potential in those fields. A land in the heart of the Po Valley, in Legnago in the province of Verona, fertile, but with issues related to fog and humidity, where not all grapes can be cultivated. However, by selecting the right varieties, unique wines can be obtained, round and structured, rich in aromas. Anna recounts: «Grandfather Battista is the one who believed in this land in 1957 and decided to plant the vineyard. We always lived in the countryside only as a hobby, but probably the dedication of our grandfather and
the memory of the harvests and the lunches under the pergola has been the seed that eventually turned into a tree
The turning point was in 2013, when the two sisters decided to turn the vineyard into a real business, as both had left their jobs and were seeking a new path. It was a significant physical commitment among the vines, learning to maneuver the tractor, taking specific pruning courses, obtaining certification for the use of pesticides, all to be autonomous and aware in the production of grapes and subsequently quality wines.
A hard job, rewarded by the beauty of living in nature and the satisfaction of creating a product that reflects oneself. Both active Fisar sommeliers soon understood that becoming a real winery would be the natural conclusion of their journey: "At first we learn the trade with the idea of selling only the grapes to other wineries, as my grandfather did, but then..."
In August 2015, upon seeing the clusters of merlot, wonderful and of superior quality, we realized that we had to go further.
and to enhance that treasure and produce the wine from our grapes." Beyond that, they have truly gone, because, Anna continues: "Charme was the first wine produced from Merlot grapes. We were looking for something that would let us enter the world of wine with a bang, and since this product did not exist, we decided that it had to be ours. The market has loved it from the very beginning, and for ten years it has been our most representative and imitated wine."
A bet won on all fronts, also thanks to the skill of the two winemakers who believed in the project. Thanks to their collaboration, Charme was introduced to the market immediately. “Year after year we have improved it, especially by gradually reducing the amount of natural sugar residue, while maintaining the typical and recognizable taste of our wine. This year we decided to change its appearance, using a dark bottle instead of the classic transparent one.” Special attention is also given to the label applied to the classic version of the bottle, which tells their story: “Two different but united objects are depicted, the grapefruit and the amethyst. They symbolize us, two very different sisters in character but united in this project.
The grapefruit is the juicy and fresh part of the wine, while the amethyst represents its brilliance.
And the preciousness, since every year we produce just under 3000 bottles. I ask what the future challenges will be for Annafrancesca: “Our next step will be to release the Metodo Classico, probably next year, thus completing the range. A new blend, which many of our customers are eagerly waiting for.” A great, huge satisfaction for this small female-owned business, a rare gem in an environment that is usually very male-dominated, like that of wine. “There are those who are enchanted by the project - says Anna - those impressed by the strength and dedication, and those who don’t believe that two women can work in the vineyard and create quality wines. We are confident in what we have created and continue straight on our path: just like our symbol, the Dragonfly, which does not fly backwards. We always move forward despite the difficulties.”
