The series of CARATI presents the very essence of my wish to produce wine. I bought my very first two oak barrels back in 1983 in the region of Bordeaux, in order to refine my first production of Merlot. The wine was immediately successful and the demand exceeded the production of the types of Merlot which were produced in Ticino back in those days. In 1983 the first label of CARATO was produced; in the Italian language the term indicates a small oak barrel (called 'Carato' or 'Caratello') that nowadays is commonly called Barrique. From that moment on, there was a succession of harvests, some perfect others less, that generate over 30 high quality productions, following the modern trends in each historic period (which cyclically change approximately every 10 years). Nowadays, with over 30 years of experience, we produce a very high-quality Merlot, that presents the epitome of our vision of these grapes in the territory of the Canton of Ticino. CARATO and CARATO RISERVA are produced with the very best harvests, and this is some Merlot that reflects the quality of the territory on the right side of the Ticino river, between Gudo and Gordola, where on a granitic soil, old ceps of Merlot grow with very deep roots in order to seek the substances that are fundamental for the production of big well-structured wine. Back in 2011 we added a white version to this Merlot. Some white wine that would be able to compare favourably with the red Merlot and that would present the trademark of our production. With a 'borgognotte' technique we were able to produce a well-structured white wine with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blank grapes, fermented and refined with regular 'bâtonnages' for about one year, in French oak barrels. Some white wine that can be paired to the Merlot wines, creating a complete high-level line: CARATO BIANCO. High gastronomy wine well suited to be paired with the traditional local dishes of the region of the Canton of Ticino.

In 2011, thanks to the grape drying production technique which we studied and developed during the last 10 years, we decided to produce a top wine called DIAMANTE. This is a wine that presents all of our production of red grapes such as Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petit Verdot. The very best grapes are hand-picked and placed on large trays that are dried out for 3-4 weeks in a ventilated tunnel where temperature and time concentrate sugar and extracts. After being pressed the condensed grape musts are fermented separately, directly in new barrels made with oak matured for 4 years. The very top of the production of the French barrel masters. The wine that will compose the DIAMANTE are refined in barrels for about 18-24 months before being assembled and bottled. After about one year in the bottle, they are ready to be savoured and enjoyed even by the most demanding palate. DIAMANTE is a very austere, elegant and powerful wine, with soft and silky tannins, with mature fruit and with an aroma of noble spices. A fantastic bouquet that impresses sight and that seduces nose and palate right from the very first impact. Some very sensual meditation wine.

Our company is the first and only wine producer in the area of Ticino to produce sparkling wine with the so called ‘Martinotti’ method (also known as ‘Long Charmat Method’). We have been specialized in this process since 1995, when we started making sparkling wine in our first tanks with Merlot grapes vinified in white: since then, CHARME remains the brand that characterises the production of all of our sparkling wine. A modern and captivating look, distinguished by a nice transparent bottle with a modern antique closure: CHARME has been the leader in the sparkling wine production in the Canton of Ticino since over twenty years ago.

CHARME has nowadays become a become a cuvée with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Merlot grapes, fermented for 4-6 months in autoclave at a controlled temperature. A very typical fresh and delicate aperitive wine.

CHARME ROSÉ is a sparkling wine made with Merlot grapes that are fermented for about one year in autoclave; this wine is ideal for an aperitive or for dessert. The taste is very fresh and fruity, with notes of raspberries and of wild strawberries.

In the area of Contone, in the ‘Paleari’ property spanning ca. 8 hectares, we planted some Chardonnay (2 hectares) and Pinot Noir (1 hectare) which are special colonial varieties originating from the Champagne region in France. These two varieties allow us to produce some high-quality sparkling wine that is completely produced in Ticino. NOIR, out top product in the sparkling wine range, is a cuvée from the Ticino region made with Chardonnay and with Pinot Noir grapes. Sparkling wine with a low sugar content. Fermented for about 30 months in autoclave, NOIR presents a fine and sensual sparkling wine ideal for an aperitive, but also perfect during an entire meal. High quality ‘millesimé’ that induces you to thoroughly enjoy every single sip.

Our company is the only one to have an own distillery: after a few stays in the region of Cognac, Angelo Delea decided that the production of Grappa should become a must in the house. After a series of specialized courses at the University of Segonzac, in Charante, which is the area where Cognac is produced, in 1995 Angelo Delea decided to purchase an old distillery made back in 1932, composed by 4 x 500 lt. steam boilers. He promptly decided to distillate all the wine mark deriving from the wine production in a separate manner in order to be able to obtain some single-variety Grappa. A varied range of with Merlot, Americano grapes, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Moscato grapes. An intriguing choice that, thanks to the refinement in French oak, ash and cherry barrels, allows us to produce a varied and captivating selection of Grappa and of distillates. The focus is fixed exclusively on the production of Grappa and thanks to the extension of the cultivated vine varieties it was further expanded. Nowadays we produce a range of about ten different single varietal Grappa, which is sold either as white Grappa or as refined in precious oak barrels, for an average of 7 to 10 years. In 2010 the brand-new distillery was purchased (since the old one had become obsolete and surpassed) so that thanks to the new production technology, the quality was further improved and optimized, reaching a new level of excellence. The modern technology, precision in distillation, the twenty-year experience, as well as the meticulous preparation of the primary substance, allowed us to further improve the quality of our products, obtaining prime-class quality at the level of the very best local and foreign renown productions. Following the trend of the last 10 years, we created a new line of Ticino Grappa: a very smoothe and sensual line, as requested by the market. The line called LE MORBIDE presents the last evolution in the branch of Grappa and of distillates, in the house Delea. A captivating-Grappa line that is masterfully refined and assembled in order to obtain some unique nectars.

La Bianca, Grappa made with white wine grape mark aged in ash wood barrels.

La Bionda, Grappa made with white and red wine grape mark aged in cherry, ash wood and oak barrels.

La Bruna, an assembly of the best grappa refined in oak barrels.