🍷 Chiaretto
Also known as: Bardolino Chiaretto, Valtènesi 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. 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.
How it connects to Wine
🍷 Chiaretto → made in → 🗺️ Italian wine → kind of → 🗺️ Wines of Europe → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 🍷 Rosé
- Where it is made
- 🗺️ Italian wine
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Rosé, 📜 Bardolino, 📍 Lake Garda
Frequently asked questions
What does Chiaretto mean, and how pale is it?
From the Italian chiaro, light: a pale pink rosé from Lake Garda, light and fresh.
Is it true that Chiaretto is made only on the eastern shore of Lake Garda?
No. It is made on the eastern shore, in Bardolino in Veneto, and on the western shore, in Valtènesi in Lombardy.
How is Chiaretto best served?
Young and chilled, to about 8–10 °C, with fish, salads and light snacks.
Similar
🍷 Cerasuolo · 🍷 Blush wine · 🍷 Blended rosé · 🍷 Vin gris · 🍷 Clarete · 🍷 Weissherbst
⚠️ 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.