# PassioneSentimento Rosso Veneto IGT (2021)

- **Producer:** Pasqua Vigneti e Cantine
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Merlot, Corvina, Croatina
- **Region:** Veneto, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.0%
- **Average price:** €12
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, plum, blackberry, blackcurrant, redcurrant, vanilla, cloves, cedar, chocolate, dried fig, prune, leather

## About this wine

A tribute to Verona's most famous love story, Romeo and Juliet, this wine features a label depicting the famous message wall in the courtyard of Juliet's house. Produced by the historic Pasqua family, who have been crafting wines in Veneto since 1925, this modern take on Veronese red winemaking captures the passion and romance of its homeland. It represents a bridge between traditional appassimento techniques and contemporary tastes, offering an approachable yet deeply expressive profile.

## Interesting facts

- The label features a photograph by Giò Martorana of the graffiti-covered wall at Juliet's house in Verona.
- Uses a short 'appassimento' process, drying grapes for 30 days to concentrate flavors without making the wine too heavy.
- The Pasqua winery was founded in 1925 by four brothers who moved from Apulia to Veneto to establish the estate.

## Food pairing

The wine's off-dry profile, rich red fruit character, and soft tannins make it an exceptional match for rich, savory dishes with a hint of sweetness or fruitiness, such as duck with cherry sauce or glazed pork. The moderate acidity cuts through the fat of slow-cooked meats, while the velvety texture complements aged cheeses.

## Wine making process

Crafted using a partial appassimento method. The grapes (Merlot, Corvina, and Croatina) are carefully selected and left to dry in wooden crates within the drying loft (fruttaio) for about a month, losing around 30% of their water content to concentrate sugars and aromas. After pressing, fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, followed by aging in oak barrels for approximately 3 months to soften the tannins and add complexity.