Italy, renowned for its exquisite wines, boasts a plethora of wine regions that captivate wine enthusiasts from all over the world. Among these regions, Gambellara stands out as a hidden gem, a treasure trove of wine-making traditions and breathtaking landscapes. Nestled in the heart of this picturesque area is the illustrious Dal Maso Winery, a family-owned estate that has been producing exceptional wines for generations.

Gambellara, located in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy, is a haven for wine lovers seeking authentic experiences. Surrounded by rolling hills, terraced vineyards, and quaint villages, the area’s unique microclimate and volcanic soil create the perfect conditions for cultivating grapes with exceptional flavor profiles. This serene landscape, often overshadowed by its more famous neighboring wine regions, offers visitors a chance to immerse themselves in a less touristy and more intimate wine-tasting experience.

Founded in the late 19th century, the Dal Maso Winery has remained a family-owned and operated estate for over four generations. The winery’s commitment to preserving traditional winemaking methods and a deep respect for the land have contributed to their reputation for producing remarkable wines. Stepping onto the grounds of the Dal Maso Winery, visitors are greeted with a warm, welcoming atmosphere and a palpable sense of history and passion for winemaking. I had the pleasure of meeting Nicola Dal Maso, older brother and winemaker who prefers native grapes of the region. He runs the winery with his two sisters who handle commercial production and national sales. The winery is stunning, and has a warm and inviting tasting room that’s old world in style, slightly rustic, but also very modern.

They produce wines from Cabernet Franc, Carmenere, Merlot, and Tai Rosso which I personally fell in love with. They also produce a sparkling wine from Durello grapes too, from Lessini DOC as well as have some vineyards in Colli Berici. I had the chance to try some of the wines including the Durello Sparkling which has 80+ months before disgorgement. This is the most important grape for the area and has a nose of floral notes, fresh yellow apple, no sugar (pa dose), and 7 years on the lees. It’s honestly a perfect wine; truly perfect!

After we tasted the Tai Rosso Rosé which was one of my favorites. It’s fresh and fruity, easy to drink, and ideal for summer and fall sipping. It has lots of red fruit and 2022 was one of the best vintages they have seen for this wine. After we sipped the Tai Rosso Monte Mitorio which is a single vineyard at the top of the Colli Berici hills from 35-40 year old vines. This one was so delicious and really made me fall in love with Tai Rosso!

We also sipped the Special Reserve: Col Pizzarda made form Tai Rosso vines with very small yields. It’s a 2020 so still a young wine so you can easily wait on this wine and let it age but if you drink it now which you totally can you’ll find pleasing pops of barrique in the wine which really make it so enticing. After a great tasting with Nicola he took us to an amazing restaurant in the hills where we enjoyed two older wines with some incredible Italian cooking. We began with the 2017 Monte Mitorio, which we tasted the 2022 in the winery.. but this one had some age and wow, was it absolutely amazing. It’s so smooth and so decadent after all this time and can easily age even more if you’d like it too. I’d love to see this wine again in 5 years aging time to really see the Tai Rosso and how it developed. Enjoyed with this wine was a shrimp course, and although not a traditional pairing it was divine!

To pair with my filet I enjoyed the 2001 Terra des Rovi Rosso which is not available anymore but Nicola wanted to bring us this special treat for lunch. Wow was it impressive, absolutely stunning. It’s a blend of Merlot, Tai Rosso, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Carmenere which honestly are a perfect blend when Dal Maso is producing them. All these wines are a must have and some are imported to the USA so I will be working hard on finding them in some of my favorite cities since I want y’all to be able to enjoy these wines too.

Always remember eat what you like and drink what you love. Please pair responsibly!