Caldora Ortonese, Malvasia, Chardonnay 2024

96 POINTS: Luca Maroni 
93 POINTS: Wine Direct Tasting Team

"Coming from the warm but tempered shores of Chieti in Abruzzo on Italy’s east coast, this Malvasia Chardonnay from Ortonese is a ripe, fruity and easy-drinking Italian white wine. Ripe peach, juicy pear, hints of mango and even fig are all present here, they are joined by a round body and great balance thanks to the Chardonnay grapes that thrive in the sunny conditions that are cooled by a coastal breeze. Malvasia, to the blend brings a freshness, a citrus backbone and a lovely, dried herb note which comes through on the finish. This wine is one to keep in the fridge as it will slip down perfectly on its own or accompanying light vegetable or fish dishes."

The Caldora winery was born with quality in mind, as the ‘Progetto Qualita’ (quality project) of the cooperative Cantina Sociale di Ortona. Based in the Chieti province of Abruzzo, the larger cooperative has been working for many years, producing wines from over 1500 hectares of land cultivated by around 700 farmers. Continually striving to reduce their yield per hectare, thereby increasing the quality and concentration of each grape that enters the winery, the Progetto was established in 1999 to celebrate approximately 200 hectares of vineyard area, selected from a variety of the highest-quality terroirs, which provided fruit that consistently passes the most rigorous of quality checks.