German Unity Day is on Monday, October 3. I think that all German's not voting today to bail out Greece are here on Lake Garda. I hear more German spoken than I do Italian. Because of the influx of these german-speaking and other tourists in the area, the bus that runs from Riva to Verona with all the local stops in between are packed and are running late. The tourist office predicts that this weekend will be even worse.
We wanted to visit Bardolino for the festa dell'Uva e del vino which officially opens tonight at 6P. We decided to go today to miss the crowds. But we also missed the festival even though all the tents were in place. But I'm guessing that since all the wine-loving throngs will be there tonight, it left the town at mid-day relatively quiet. I had a good bottle of Tacchetto Bardolino with lunch for an early celebration.
Bardolino DOC
From Wikipedia, the free encycloped
Bardolino is an Italian red wine produced along the chain of morainic hills in the province of Verona to the east of Lake Garda. It takes its name from the town Bardolino on the shores of Lake Garda and was awarded Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) status in 1968. The blend of grapes used to produce the wine includes Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara. Up to 15% of the blend may include Rossignola, Barbera, Sangiovese and/or Garganega.
The three main grapes used to produce Bardolino are also used to produce Valpolicella but the two wines are quite different. This is partly because Bardolino generally contains less Corvina which adds body and structure and more Rondinella which has a relatively neutral flavor profile. Yields in Bardolino also tend to be higher than the 13 tons per hectare officially prescribed in DOC regulations.
Other versions of Bardolino include a Superiore has at least 1 extra percent of alcohol and must be aged at least a year before being released, a rosé known as Bardolino Chiaretto, a lightly sparkling frizzante and a novello. The Bardolino novello was first produced in the late 1980s in a style that mimics the French wine Beaujolais nouveau.
It is already after 10P here, and not only did I have the Bordolino for lunch, but I had a Valpolicella for dinner, a cinnamon flavored grappa, plus a Mirto di Sardegna liquor, so I'll go straight to the photos and make my comments accordingly.
And finally, in case you think that I am not true to my word. Here is the church in Malcesine, now 5,00€ richer.
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