🍷 Chiaretto
A pale Italian rosé from the shores of Lake Garda.
Chiaretto is a pale rosé wine from the shores of Lake Garda in northern Italy. The name comes from the Italian chiaro, meaning light. It is made on the eastern shore, in the Bardolino area of Veneto, and on the western shore, in Valtènesi in Lombardy.
On the eastern shore Chiaretto uses the same grapes as red Bardolino: Corvina and Rondinella. On the western shore the main grape is the local Groppello. The juice stays on the skins only briefly, for a few hours, so the wine comes out pale pink, light and fresh, with notes of red berries and citrus.
Chiaretto is one of Italy's best-known rosé wine styles and an important part of Italian wine. It is usually drunk young and chilled, with lake fish, salads and light snacks. Its close link to Bardolino and Lake Garda shows on the label, which often reads Bardolino Chiaretto or Valtènesi Chiaretto.
Links
- Part of
- 🍷 Rosé
- Where it is made
- 🗺️ Italian wine
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Rosé, 📜 Bardolino, 📍 Lake Garda
Frequently asked questions
What is Chiaretto?
It is a pale Italian rosé from the shores of Lake Garda. The name means little light one.
What grapes are used for Bardolino Chiaretto?
Mainly Corvina and Rondinella, the same grapes as red Bardolino. On Garda's western shore the main grape is Groppello.
How should Chiaretto be served?
Young and chilled to about 8–10 °C. It goes well with fish, salads and light snacks.
Similar
🍷 Cerasuolo · 🍷 Blush wine · 🍷 Saignée rosé · 🍷 Blended rosé · 🍷 Vin gris · 🍷 Clairet
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.