Local Wine Tasting Experience in Verona City Center
Discover four wines from Verona & Veneto region with local pairings in a wine bar located in the city center. A sommelier will provide insights in a fine tasting experience.
Structure
Drinking window
Best 8 to 25 years from vintage.
vintage8 yrs25 yrs27 yrs
Critic scores
No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating in the header is our own.
In the glass
Aroma: blackcurrant, cedar, violets, dark cherry, tobacco
Palate: intense dark fruit, firm structured tannins, mineral, espresso, long cedar finish
Fratta is Maculan's Bordeaux-inspired flagship red, one of northeastern Italy's landmark wines. A Cabernet-Merlot blend aged 18 months in new French oak, it rivals top Veneto reds in complexity and ageing potential. Fausto Maculan was among the first producers in the Veneto to vinify Bordeaux varieties at serious quality levels.
What it pairs with
-
Braised short ribs with gremolata
The wine's firm structure and dark fruit are ideal for slow-braised beef with acidic gremolata contrast. -
Venison stew with polenta
Game and firm tannins are a natural pairing; polenta cushions the structure. -
Aged Parmigiano 36 months
Crystalline salt of aged Parmesan amplifies the wine's dark fruit and mineral notes.
How to serve Maculan Fratta Breganze Rosso
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass , the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Braised short ribs with gremolata, Venison stew with polenta, Aged Parmigiano 36 months. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Fratta (meaning 'thicket' or 'scrubland') was Maculan's first serious red wine, launched in 1977 when Bordeaux-variety viticulture in the Veneto was almost unheard of. The wine was initially bottled as Breganze Cabernet, later reformulated as a Cabernet-Merlot blend. It helped establish the possibility of serious red wine production in Breganze alongside the internationally acclaimed dessert wines.
- 1977: Maculan first releases Fratta as a Bordeaux-variety red from the Breganze DOC.
- 1985: Fratta reformulated with Merlot blended alongside Cabernet Sauvignon.
Facts
- Producer
- Maculan · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (40%)
- Classification
- Breganze Rosso DOC
- Oak
- 18 months in new and second-year French oak barriques
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 35-55 at retail
- Drinking window
- 8-25 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1977
Frequently asked about Maculan Fratta Breganze Rosso
What does Maculan Fratta Breganze Rosso taste like?
On the nose, blackcurrant, cedar, violets, dark cherry, tobacco. On the palate, intense dark fruit, firm structured tannins, mineral, espresso, long cedar finish. Structurally full-bodied, high tannins, high acidity with a very long finish. Fratta is Maculan's Bordeaux-inspired flagship red, one of northeastern Italy's landmark wines. A Cabernet-Merlot blend aged 18 months in new French oak, it rivals top Veneto reds in complexity and ageing potential. Fausto Maculan was among the first producers in the Veneto to vinify Bordeaux varieties at serious quality levels.
When should I drink Maculan Fratta Breganze Rosso?
Drink 8-25 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Maculan Fratta Breganze Rosso?
Braised short ribs with gremolata is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Venison stew with polenta and Aged Parmigiano 36 months. The wine's firm structure and dark fruit are ideal for slow-braised beef with acidic gremolata contrast.
What grapes are in Maculan Fratta Breganze Rosso?
The blend is Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (40%). The wine is classified as Breganze Rosso DOC.
Tags
Taste it where it is made: tours and tastings in Veneto
Guided Food Tour with Wine Tasting in Verona
Explore Italian cuisine and culture on this food tour led by a local guide. Enjoy 9 different tastings, sip the local wines, and walk through Verona's city center to t...
Wine and Pottery Workshop at Smart Lab Verona
Get ready for a magical experience at SmArt Lab! Explore your inner artist as you experience the world of clay art while savoring delightful wines from Italy.