The gold medal-winning wine of the Grand Prix du Vin Suisse 2021: Quattromani 2018: An exceptionally successful Ticino Merlot, pressed from the grapes of four special wine personalities Guido Brivio, Feliciano Gialdi, Angelo Delea and Claudio Tamborini from the four sub-regions: Mendrisiotto, Locarnese, Luganese and Tre Valli. Its bouquet exudes lush aromas of dark wild berries and blackberries, accompanied by gingerbread spice and a noble roasted aroma. On the palate, it is powerful and full-bodied, with juicy acidity and a long- lasting finish. The overall high complexity and great elegance make this exceptional Merlot an unforgettable drinking experience.

Attributes

Origin:	Switzerland / Tessin
Grape variety:	Merlot
Label:	Vegan
Ripening potential:	3 to 12 years after harvest
Drinking temperature:	16 to 18 °C
Food Pairing:	Brasato di manzo al Barolo, Châteaubriand, Filet Wellington, Saddle of lamb fillet with herb jus, Wild specialities, Wild fowl, Spicy hard cheese
Maturation:	in new barriques, long cultivation
Maturation duration:	20 months
Volume:	14.0 %
Note:	Contains sulphites

Grape variety

Merlot

Everybody’s darling

Merlot is the most charming member of the Bordeaux family. It shines with rich colour, fragrant fullness, velvety tannins and sweet, plummy fruit. It even makes itself easy for the vintner, as it matures without issue in cool years as well. This is in contrast to the stricter Cabernet Sauvignon, which it complements as a blending partner. Its good qualities have made the Merlot famous worldwide. At over 100,000 hectares, it is the most-planted grape in France. It also covers large areas in California, Italy, Australia and recently in Eastern Europe. The only catch is that pure Merlot varieties rarely turn out well. Its charm is often associated with a lack of substance. Only the best specimens improve with maturity. They then develop complex notes of leather and truffles. This succeeds in the top wines from the Bordeaux appellation of Pomerol and those from Ticino, among others.

Region

Tessin

Ticino: the Merlot Mecca of Switzerland

Ticino winegrowing is thought to date from Roman times, as early as 2000 years ago. But the foundation for today’s viticulture was laid just over 100 years ago, in 1907. It was then that the first Merlot vines were planted at Castelrotto in Malcantone. Since then, the variety has emerged triumphant here. Top selections matured in barriques more than measure up to those from Bordeaux’s Saint-Émilion or Pomerol regions.

Country

Switzerland

Switzerland – A small country with enormous diversity

Switzerland is famous for its banks, watches, and cheese, but not necessarily for its wine. The Swiss didn't invent wine, but they have been extremely open and curious to it. Wine culture arrived in what is now modern Switzerland via several routes: from Marseilles to Lake Geneva and the Lower Valais region; from the Aosta Valley through the Great St. Bernard Pass to the rest of Valais; from the Rhone through Burgundy, across the Jura Mountains to Lake Constance; and from Lombardy to Ticino, and then on to Grisons.