The geographical area surrounding Refrontolo, a small village located in the hills north of Treviso (Northern Italy) is widely known for its typical sweet wine produced with Marzemino grapes. According to many, this wine is the one mentioned by Mozart in his 'Don Giovanni'.
His librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte was born in Ceneda - today Vittorio Veneto - on March 10, 1749 and is thought to have mentioned it in Mozart's opera because he knew and appreciated its special qualities.
(It needs to be said that someone believes the real Marzemino of 'Don Giovanni' is the one originating in Isera, Vallagarina, Trentino Alto Adige, as Mozart spent some time there).
The name 'Burladore' comes from Tirso de Molina's opera 'El Burlador de Sevilla' which inspired Da Ponte while writing the libretto of Mozart's 'Don Giovanni'.



Besides owning some vineyards in the Refrontolo area, the Gregoletto family have a steady relationship with local wine-growers.
We recently bought about 8,000 kilos of Marzemino grapes after carefully and personally selecting them. These grapes were then raisined in small crates and processed into wine at the Maculan Winery.
We are close friends with Fausto Maculan, with whom we also share a common passion for antique wine-growing and wine-making books. Considering his top-level skills and technical background especially in the production of sweet wines, we asked for his contribution in the production of this wine which we sell under the trademark Vallis Mareni.
What we wanted most was to experience the results of processing these grapes in a cultural and processing environment that was different from the traditional one.



WHAT THE SOMMELIER SAYS...
Below are the main highlights of the Burladore Marzemino 2006.
This wine has a very intense, shining purple red colour. With a more poetic taste one might say it is 'dragon blood coloured'. This definition perfectly conveys the meaning, although no-one has obviously ever seen a dragon - not even a bleeding one !
The olfactory perception is of a strong, very pleasant bouquet with a fruity touch of ripe sweet and sour cherries - which comes out when actually tasting the wine - but you can also perceive cocoa, chocolate and candied citrus fruit peel perfumes.
Tasting immediately reveals its sweet character, although it is its strong body that soon steals the scene. The tongue quickly dries up and the fruity perceptions return to the nose. A persistent whirlpool of ripe and exotic fruit jellies finally leaves the aftertaste of a chocolate filled with a sweet cherry in alcohol.
This wine gives its utmost when accompanied by tasty cheese such as Asiago Stravecchio or Parmigiano 36 months. It is also suitable with crackers, and excellent if tasted alone at the end of a meal in the old fashion, just like an energetic liquor or a digestive.
It is recommended young, although it ripens well in the bottle.
Serve cool at cellar temperature in winter, at refrigerator temperature in summer.