Description
Founded in 1984 by Matilde Poggi, Le Fraghe is a charming, artisanal winery located in the heart of the Bardolino appellation, nestled between Lake Garda and Valpolicella. Matilde, hails from a grape growing family, who until her inaugural vintage, sold their grapes to local winemakers—including her uncle. She fondly recalls those, “Octobers when we went right from school to harvesting the grapes.” Today, she is one of Italy’s most respected winemakers, and also the president of the Federazione Italiana Vignaioli Indipendenti (or FIVI, the Italian Federation of Independent Winegrowers) and vice president of the Confédération Européenne des Vignerons Indépendants (or CEVI, the European Confederation of Independent Winegrowers).
Le Fraghe (in dialect) means “strawberries”, which are found among her vineyards. The soil at Bardolino is a glacial schist leftover from the glaciers that carved out Lake Garda and helps to impart a nice base of minerality to the wines. Poggi has been working organically since 2009, and everything is picked by hand. The 2023 Camporengo bottling is 100% Garganega, sourced from 19-year-old vines; the grapes were whole cluster pressed. The must—55% free run juice—was vinified entirely in stainless steel. Aged on fine lees in 50hL stainless-steel tanks until bottling, the following Spring.
Enticing bouquet with scents of ripe peach, pineapple and a touch of sweet herbs. The palate delivers, with flavors of yellow peach, cantaloupe, Meyers lemon and a hint of marjoram. Fleshy with great structure and juicy acidity. The finish is a harmonious mélange of bright, tart fruit mingled with a delightfully refreshing salinity.
