Cantina San Paolo presents its new Praeclarus Rosé Brut, available in Italy from October 1, 2024. This sparkling wine from Alto Adige is the latest addition to the Praeclarus line, a sparkling wine project launched in 1979 thanks to the initiative of three winemakers from Cantina San Paolo. Until now, the Praeclarus line included a Brut and a vintage Pas Dosé, both made with Chardonnay grapes grown in the vineyards around the town of San Paolo. With the addition of Praeclarus Rosé Brut, the range expands by introducing another prestigious grape variety: Pinot Noir.
The elegance of Pinot Noir in Praeclarus Rosé Brut
“Praeclarus Rosé Brut expresses all the strength and character of Pinot Noir, a grape variety that, in our territory, reaches very high quality levels,” says winemaker Philipp Zublasing. The grapes come from young and medium-aged vineyards, which in the sparkling version show great expressive potential.
Although Cantina San Paolo has historically focused more on white grape varieties, such as Pinot Bianco, Pinot Noir is the most important red grape variety for the winery.
The Praeclarus Rosé Brut joins the historic Brut produced since 1979 with Chardonnay grapes, while the Pas Dosé vintage continues to represent the pinnacle of the Metodo Classico range.
“Praeclarus is a success story with constantly growing production,” explains Tobias Leimgruber, sales and marketing director of Cantina San Paolo. Currently, the winery produces around 43,000 bottles of Praeclarus per year, with the aim of reaching 60,000 bottles by 2030.
The new Praeclarus Rosé Brut allows the winery to offer three variants of Metodo Classico, strengthening its presence on the quality sparkling wine market.
A refined blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
The Praeclarus Rosé Brut cuvée is composed of 80% Pinot Noir grapes, which provide structure, and the remaining 20% Chardonnay, which adds elegance. The grapes come from vineyards located between 300 and 500 meters above sea level around San Paolo, on dolomitic and clay soils. The unique microclimate, characterized by strong temperature variations, favors the development of a perfect balance between acidity and sugars.
The harvest is done by hand in the early hours of the morning. In the cellar, the grapes are gently pressed and the base wine ages in steel for several months. The refermentation in the bottle takes place at a controlled temperature, followed by aging on the lees for at least 24 months.
In the glass, Praeclarus Rosé Brut presents itself with a delicate pink color, reminiscent of the nuances of onion skin, and a very fine perlage. On the nose, intense notes of red fruits emerge, accompanied by hints of peach and orange. On the palate it is structured, savory and with a rounded finish.
