# Marachelle Col Fondo (2023)

- **Producer:** CANTINA TONELLO SOCIETA' AGRICOLA SEMPLICE
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** sparkling
- **Grapes:** Durella, Chardonnay
- **Region:** Veneto, Italy
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 11.0%
- **Average price:** €16
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now
- **Serving temperature:** 6–10 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** peach, grapefruit, lemon, apricot, pear, apple, biscuit, brioche, bread, pastry

## About this wine

Marachelle Col Fondo is a frizzante white wine from Veneto, Italy, produced by Cantina Tonello. It is characterized by its 'col fondo' winemaking style, which involves a second fermentation in the bottle with the lees. The blend features Durella and Chardonnay grapes, a combination that the producer playfully refers to as 'Marachelle,' or 'prank,' suggesting a clever and unexpected pairing. The grapes are grown in Monti Lessini, an area known for its volcanic and clay soils. Cantina Tonello is a family-run estate founded in 1985, now led by winemaker Diletta Tonello.

## Interesting facts

- The name 'Marachelle' means 'prank' or 'joke' in Italian.
- This wine is made using the Ancestral Method, also known as 'col fondo'.
- The blend aims to balance Durella's acidity with Chardonnay's softness.
- The wine can be served clear or slightly cloudy by agitating the lees.

## Food pairing

The wine's bright acidity and subtle effervescence cut through richer or fried foods, cleansing the palate. Its fruit notes can complement lighter proteins and vegetable dishes, while the yeasty complexity from the lees adds depth that pairs well with earthy flavors like mushrooms and truffles.

## Wine making process

Marachelle Col Fondo is produced using a manual harvest with selection in the vineyard, typically in late September. The grapes, a blend of Durella and Chardonnay, undergo a primary fermentation. The wine is then bottled for a second fermentation, a technique known as 'col fondo' or the Ancestral Method, which takes place in the bottle for at least three months. During this period, the wine ages on its lees, contributing to its character. The wine can be served with the lees at the bottom or slightly agitated for a cloudier appearance.