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Pasqua explains the sense of unity behind their flagship rosé

15 September 2023 By Michael Huband

With decades of experience making wines in Verona, Pasqua Vigneti e Cantine chose unity as their theme in the booming premium rosé market.

Already earning praise for its 11 Minutes rosé, Pasqua Vigneti e Cantine knew it could push further in the exciting category. The Veronese winery chose to create a more powerful expression, guided by a multifaceted approach and high quality production. Pasqua named it Y by 11 Minutes. On the cusp of the project’s fourth vintage, CEO Riccardo Pasqua’s “new, important chapter” goes from strength to strength.

The simple name is a statement of intent, distilling the company’s philosophy and practice into a single symbol. Chosen for its shape, Y represents diverse elements meeting in unity at the centre. Pasqua built on its previous multifaceted approaches, for instance in its longstanding programme of artistic collaborations, to take a rounded approach.

It set the target of making a wine in which local heritage, winemaking expertise and market analysis come together harmoniously. More than just a premium expression, the wine is a step forward in Pasqua’s development of fine Italian rosé.

The blend is the most obvious reference to coming together in unity. The three grapes, two local and one international, each bring different characters that combine to elevate the whole. Native Corvina dominates as 60% of the blend, bringing fresh acidity and juicy red fruit. The second element is 30% Trebbiano di Lugana, using the local grape to add length and floral accents. The final 10% is international Camenere, used for structure and stability. The complexity brought when distinctive varieties join, the family company believes, is central to its appeal.

In winemaking too, the rosé shows a blending of approaches. The red grapes undergo a gentle pressing to coax out berry aromatics and a brush of tannin. Meanwhile, white Trebbiano macerates on its skins for eight to ten hours, protecting its elegant character.

The blend mostly ferments in old oak and stainless steel, but with 10% siphoned into new French oak. Matching the growing trend for oak influence on premium rosés, this light touch adds further dimensions of toast and vanilla to the wine.

The premium intentions are no coincidence. As a further element in its united, multifaceted approach, Pasqua commissioned Wine Monitor of Nomisma to analyse the rosé market, with a particular emphasis on US and British markets.

The research, conducted for the line’s launch in 2021, confirmed the company’s expectations. It found that the rosé market has grown rapidly and premiumisation is a major opportunity for Italian producers. Rather than separate the family’s heritage from business developments, the two came together to guide the new project.

Now firmly embedded in the range, Pasqua is seeing Y by 11 Minutes grow each year. The future can be unpredictable; indeed, Riccardo Pasqua believes 2023 will be a strong vintage, but one that “bears witness to the unpredictability of climate and weather conditions.” However, after the release of its first organic vintage and continued recognition, the release has settled into a comfortable market position. It has won awards at international competitions, and both Y by 11 Minutes rosé and 11 Minutes rosé are stocked across the UK at Majestic, Harrods and Jeroboams.

As for the next projects, the team are open-minded, but giving nothing away. Riccardo Pasqua is enthusiastic about the company research and development and its innovative work. Yet he stresses that Pasqua’s future prospects will begin in the land: “Our wine making style across our portfolio and projects is always shaped by the vineyards.” As a principle for the company’s future, it will offer solid ground.