Pasqua Wines – Hey French. You Could Have Made This But You Didn’t.

I have always been a fan of Famiglia Pasqua’s wines, primarily because of the Pasqua brothers.  Riccardo and Alessandro Pasqua, the third generation, lead the brand. They are confident, talented, and passionate and their wines are a delicious selection of some of the most unique wines of Italy. This charming dynamic duo creates a stir by thinking outside the box and producing innovative wines.  Their newest release Hey French is turning all kinds of heads(and palates) with a fun yet serious take on wine.

Hey French, 1^st Edition” is their newest release.  The Pasqua brothers thrive on breaking the rules and do so with their latest release.  Hey French is a rule-breaking multi-vintage Bianco Veneto IGT from the Soave Classico zone.   Hey French “First Edition” is a mix of four vintages — 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017.  The wine is a perfect blend of Garganega(60%), rounded out with Pinot Bianco and Sauvignon, which is sourced from several parcels of vineyard on the Veronese side of Monte Calvarina in the easternmost section of Soave Classico. Volcanic soils provide the potential for structured, long-lived, mineral-driven wines.

For each year selected, the vinification of white grapes takes place with maceration on the skins for about 10 hours. Later, low-temperature alcoholic fermentation is activated with selected yeasts. A partial malolactic fermentation follows, with approximately 10% of the product, in barriques. Finally, aging in second-use wood for about 6 months and a final refinement in steel tanks.

The charming and humorous side of the Pasqua brothers lead them to create the label Hey French, You Could Have Made This But You Didn’t.  The wine is a nod to the French regions and winemakers that inspire them.

“Hey French, 1st Edition”, Super Bianco Veneto IGT, Italy, $40.00

The wine is intensely aromatic with notes of acacia, stone fruit, and toasted nuts. Freshness radiates the palate, with notes of pears, peaches, white flowers, and linear minerality coming from the volcanic soil composition.  The wine is polished with vibrant acidity and nice complexity.  With the integration of four great vintages, the wine has great potential for aging and will continue to evolve in the bottle.  This is an impressive wine that all Italian wine lovers will enjoy.

Hey French is enjoyable on its own or as an aperitif.  It will also pair delectably with classic Venetian seafood dishes like baccalà, linguine and clams, and seafood risotto.