Working Locally and Globally
If you ask Matilde Poggi if she remembers a time in her life that doesn’t involve wine, she’d likely say no. From her early memories of harvesting grapes after school all the way to her current role as head of the Italian Federation of Independent Winegrowers (FIVI), Matilde has lived a life focused on wine.
Matilde grew up on an estate nestled in the hills on the eastern shore of Lake Garda that now houses her winery, Le Fraghe, a property that has been farmed by her family since 1881. In 1984, at the age of 22, Matilde had her first harvest and began her love affair with the land, grapes and distinct wines from this region. She writes: “This world, marked by the changing of the seasons, has always fascinated me, and the desire slowly grew in me to become part of it, to contribute to it, to learn how to listen to the vineyard and to the land, to bring forth from them my own wines.”
Le Fraghe, located in the heart of Bardolino, produces both red wines and Chiaretto rosé from Corvina and Rondinella grapes, the reds with characteristic bright fruit and spice notes and the rosé bone-dry and mineral-driven. The wines are bright and fresh due the cooling influences of vineyards at elevation and of Lake Garda; they are also refined and elegant due to Matilde’s lifelong study of this terroir, her deep understanding of her vines and her light touch in the winery.
Matilde’s love and knowledge of her own land and wines has led to a broader mission as head of FIVI, the Italian arm of a group of organizations throughout Europe working together to develop standards and policies for independent winegrowers that promote quality and sustainability and maintain economic viability for these producers. Her work with FIVI is especially important in the face of increasingly large multinational companies that see wine as a commodity rather than what Matilde knows it is: a product with great cultural significance, deeply connected to its place of origin. With a lifetime in wine already, Matilde’s work is not done – a good thing for all of us!
Le Fraghe 2021 ‘Ròdon’ Bardolino Chiaretto, Veneto 
Retail: $28.95 / btl (6btl/cs)
Click HERE to order!
Le Fraghe 2021 Bardolino, Veneto
Retail: $28.95 / btl (6btl/cs)
Click HERE to order!
The Wines
Le Fraghe 2021 ‘Ròdon’ Bardolino Chiaretto, Veneto
On the nose, a complex mosaic of well-defined, very fragrant aromas beginning with notes of wild rose, followed by nuances of wild strawberry and redcurrant that linger and complete an elegant bouquet. The palate displays a perfect balance of crispness and body with savoury flavours and a streak of minerality, characteristics that are classic to this terroir, along with excellent supporting tannins and acidity. The finish is notably lengthy, and nicely mirrors the aromas of the wine.
Click HERE to order!
Le Fraghe 2021 Bardolino, Veneto
A purple-tinged ruby red of medium intensity in the glass. The wine’s rich, complex bouquet is the result of a perfect blend of bright fruit, sweet-sour cherry and blueberry, along with spicy nuances of cinnamon and black pepper. The distinctive hallmark of this wine is without a doubt the elegance on the palate along with a remarkably soft suite of tannins and a lovely balance between a juicy acidity and full, savoury flavours, characteristic of wines of this area. Nicely full bodied, with a long finish.
Click HERE to order!
About Le Fraghe
In the hills overlooking the eastern shore of Lago di Garda, this beautiful estate has been farmed by the same family since 1881. Matilde Poggi’s first vintage was 1984, when she was 22 years old. Prior to that, her father’s grapes were sold to another winery.
Matilde farms 3 distinct vineyards, totalling 30 hectares, and typically producing about 130,000 bottles annually. The vineyards have been certified organic sine 2009. The name of the winery, Le Fraghe, is taken from the name of a vineyard the family owned until the 1960s, but no longer have. ‘Le Fraghe’ is local dialect for wild strawberries, which are abundant in the fields.
Corvina & Rondinella are the primary grapes, and Matilde’s deft handling shows the refined, elegant, aromatic heights they can achieve. ‘Brol Grande’, her single-vineyard Bardolino Classico is partially aged in neutral tonneaux – resulting in a stunning wine that is expressive and powerful, but not heavy (Brol = clos). Bardolino Chiaretto ‘Rodon’ is a dry and delicate rosé. Chiaretto is the distinct name for rosé/rosato used exclusively in Bardolino. In the cellar, this sophisticated wine is the result of blending two techniques – part saigné and part grapes pressed without extracting colour & tannin. The name Rodon come from ancient Greek for ‘Rosa’.
Matilde is currently President of the Italian chapter of the Federazione Italiana Vignaioli Indipendenti (FIVI – Italian Federation of Independent Winegrowers), devoted to promoting and sustaining the quality and authenticity of independent wine growers.
