Ca’ del Bosco Cuvee Annamaria Clementi

We have covered the great Franciacorta territory before in our spotlight pieces, which should tell you everything you need to know already about the quality of the land and the wines that are created by the many producers who call it home. Wines from Franciacorta tend to have distinct characteristics that place them in a league of their own, but it is only the most talented of producers who are capable of taming the land and getting the most out of it.

One such producer is Ca’ del Bosco, which has developed a reputation for quality over the years due to its dedication to the craft and the ambitions of those who founded the company to make it the best that it could possibly be. In commemoration of these efforts, we will be shining a spotlight on the company itself and one of the many amazing wines that have made their ways out of the cellars at Ca’ del Bosco.

The History

The history of Ca’ del Bosco has been romanticised over time, with the company itself often referring to its origins as something of a fairy tale. They consider the fairy tale to be something ageless; a story to be shared amongst many people over time immemorial and they aim to achieve that exact same thing through the wines that they produce. In essence, every single one of their wines has a story to tell about the land that they came from and the efforts of those responsible for their creation. The only way to unveil this story is to drink the wines themselves and explore the many delights that they have to offer.

The art behind the fairy tale lies in the imagination of the person who brought it into being, which is an idea that has embedded itself in the culture of Ca’ del Bosco from the very first day that the company began operating. Skill, artistry and desire are all required to craft the best fairy tales and those skills are also crucial to the success of those in the winemaking industry.

The story of Ca’ del Bosco actually starts in the mid-1960s, which is when Annamaria Clementi Zanella bought a house in Erbusco, Franciacorta. Known locally as Ca’ del Bosc, which house was surrounded by gorgeous and dense chestnut woods that evoked the fairy tale imagery that has become such an important part of the make-up of the company’s story.

Though the tale starts here, it was actually through the work of Maurizio Zanella and the potential that he saw in Franciacorta to produce the finest fruits to be used in wines that Ca’ del Bosco really begins to pick up its steam. In addition to those glorious chestnut forests, the region plays host to an extensive weave of vineyards that are responsible for the many grapes that go into the production of the wines that have been developed by the company.

A dream for success fuelled the company in the early days, driving the company to produce absolutely stunning examples of both still and sparkling wines. Quality was always the name of the game and the team recognized that to truly tell their tale they would need to create wines that are as enchanting as any fairy tale.

It was the early 1970s when the story of Ca’ del Bosco exited its first chapter and began in earnest. It was during this time that Maurizio Zanella became conscious of, and chose to pursue, his desire for making exceptional wines with the aim of becoming a leader in the Italian wine industry. This is the true start of the story, the exit from the prologue, and the following years have seen success for the company that may have gone far beyond even the dreams that Maurizio Zanella had when he first started pursuing his passion.

It was the infinite amount of possibilities in a single drop of wine and the many qualities of the grape that inspired the fifteen-year old Maurizio Zanella to understand all that Franciacorta has to offer. Like lightning, he was inspired by the idea of harnessing this infinitesimal possibilities to create wines that would invoke within others the same passions that he enjoyed whenever he was privileged enough to taste the products of the great producers of the day.

Though it was his mother who planted the first vineyards that would go on to define the story of Ca’ del Bosco, it was Maurizio who made the most use of them. It truly was love at first sight, but it was during a trip to Champagne that truly inspired him to use the lands to create something truly special. Reinforced with this new notion, he set about developing a winery that has become known as one of the most innovative in all of Italy. Since those days, the story of Ca’ del Bosco has been its ongoing quest for excellence through the many innovations that the company have brought to the fore.

So now that we know a little bit more about Ca’ del Bosco, it is probably about time to start exploring one of the great wines that the company has produced.

Ca’ del Bosco Cuvee Annamaria Clementi 2006

It is with sparkling white wines that Ca’ del Bosco achieved its fame and so it only seems right to examine one of the best examples of this type of drink to emerge from the company.

The Ca del Bosco Cuvee Annamaria Clementi 2006 is a truly special wine, which should come as no surprise given the fact that it was dedicated to Annamaria Clementi Zanella, who founded the estate and provided everything that a young Maurizio Zanella needed to pursue his passions.

The wine is made using only the best grapes grown at the vineyard, which are marked out especially for the wine. The craft that goes into its creation is astonishing, creating a sparkling white that is truly capable of competing with anything that Champagne and Prosecco have to offer.

The gorgeous golden colour and magnificent bubbles are indicative of a wine that is wonderfully complex and yet still extraordinarily refreshing. This is a true representation of the Franciacorta region and everything that it has to offer.