Barco Reale di Carmignano DOC
An excellent regional wine that pairs perfectly with Prato’s distinctive flavors and dishes
The hills of Carmignano, beloved by the Medici, were home to the Barco Reale, a vast estate and the stage for never-ending hunting expeditions. Today Barco Reale is a name indicating a high-quality red wine that comes from the same Carmignano grapes. The enological tradition of this area is also tied to rose wines (at one time known as “vin ruspo”) and good quality Vin Santo.
Barco Reale di Carmignano, Rosato di Carmignano, Vin Santo di Carmignano and Vin Santo di Carmignano Occhio di Pernice DOC: these are the “nectars” from the municipal territories of Carmignano and Poggio a Caiano.
Varietals
Barco Reale and Rose (Rosato): Sangiovese (minimum 50%), black Canaiolo (up to 20%); Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon (10-20%); Trebbiano toscano, white Canaiolo and Malvasia (up to 10%); optional addition of other red grape varietals (up to 10%).
Vin Santo: Trebbiano toscano and long white Malvasia (at least 75%); optional addition of other white grape varietals (up to 25%).
Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice: Sangiovese (minimum 50%); optional addition of other white and red grape varietals (up to 50%).
The maximum grape yield per hectare is 100 quintals.
Barco Reale and Rose (Rosato): Sangiovese (minimum 50%), black Canaiolo (up to 20%); Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon (10-20%); Trebbiano toscano, white Canaiolo and Malvasia (up to 10%); optional addition of other red grape varietals (up to 10%).
Vin Santo: Trebbiano toscano and long white Malvasia (at least 75%); optional addition of other white grape varietals (up to 25%).
Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice: Sangiovese (minimum 50%); optional addition of other white and red grape varietals (up to 50%).
The maximum grape yield per hectare is 100 quintals.
Sensory characteristics
Barco Reale di Carmignano has a lively, bright ruby color; a rich, intense and fruity scent; a dry, sapid, fresh, full and balanced taste; and a minimum alcoholic gradation of 11º.
Rosato di Carmignano has a rosy color with varying levels of boldness, sometimes with ruby reflections; a fruity, rich and distinctive scent; a dry, fresh, pleasantly acidic and balanced taste; and a minimum alcoholic gradation of 11º.
Vin Santo di Carmignano has a color that can range from a straw-yellow to gold, to an intense amber; it has a heterogeneous, intense and distinctive scent; a balanced, velvety taste, with more pronounced body in the sweet variety; 16º.
Vin Santo di Carmignano Occhio di Pernice has a color that varies from an intense to a pale pink; intense, warm scent; sweet, soft, velvety and rotund taste; 16º.
Barco Reale di Carmignano has a lively, bright ruby color; a rich, intense and fruity scent; a dry, sapid, fresh, full and balanced taste; and a minimum alcoholic gradation of 11º.
Rosato di Carmignano has a rosy color with varying levels of boldness, sometimes with ruby reflections; a fruity, rich and distinctive scent; a dry, fresh, pleasantly acidic and balanced taste; and a minimum alcoholic gradation of 11º.
Vin Santo di Carmignano has a color that can range from a straw-yellow to gold, to an intense amber; it has a heterogeneous, intense and distinctive scent; a balanced, velvety taste, with more pronounced body in the sweet variety; 16º.
Vin Santo di Carmignano Occhio di Pernice has a color that varies from an intense to a pale pink; intense, warm scent; sweet, soft, velvety and rotund taste; 16º.
Tips and fun facts
Barco Reale is a wine that fits well at most any meal, but particularly with pasta al ragù, meat made from farm animals and white meats. The rose is perfect as an aperitivo with Tuscan-style appetizers or vegetable or meat pies. Vin Santo (in its two different versions) is wonderful paired with the full range of baked goods or creamy desserts. L’Occhio di Pernice is most certainly a “meditation” wine, but can be paired with jam tarts made with red fruits. Naturally, we can’t forget biscotti di Prato, one of the benchmarks of Tuscan baked goods.
Barco Reale is a wine that fits well at most any meal, but particularly with pasta al ragù, meat made from farm animals and white meats. The rose is perfect as an aperitivo with Tuscan-style appetizers or vegetable or meat pies. Vin Santo (in its two different versions) is wonderful paired with the full range of baked goods or creamy desserts. L’Occhio di Pernice is most certainly a “meditation” wine, but can be paired with jam tarts made with red fruits. Naturally, we can’t forget biscotti di Prato, one of the benchmarks of Tuscan baked goods.
