Prosecco Rosé is a pretty new thing. Finally, the powers that be in Italy gave it the green (or pink!) light for it to be brought into the Prosecco DOC. Glera is still the main grape variety, but there is also 10% Pinot Noir in this wine. It has notes of strawberry, raspberry and apricots and a flash of herbal green grass. There is a nice framework in the mouth that comes from a bit of grip and ripe, sweet fruit. Delicious.

There’s no escaping the influence that the Veneto region of Italy has had on the wonderful and varied world of wine - this corner of the country has been pioneering some of the planet’s finest wine styles for centuries, and continues to uphold a seriously lofty reputation. Central to that reputation in 2021 is Cantine Riondo, a winery which dominates the region with access to over 6,500 hectares of prime vineyard, covering some of the finest terroirs in Italy. With a network which includes a whopping 2,400 growers, the winemakers of Cantine Riondo are able to make the most of the superb fruit grown in Veneto’s temperate climate and in its mineral-rich soils. There’s a heavy emphasis on some of Italy’s biggest-hitting varietals, namely Valpolicella and Amarone, although recent years have seen plenty of expansion and experimentation. Treading the careful balancing act between time-honoured tradition and envelope-pushing modernity, the team at Riondo are at once supporting the history and heritage of the region, while seeking out new ways to ensure its future is as bright as its past.