Cleto Chiarli "Vecchia Modena Nero" Vigneto Cialdini Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro DOC Brut 2024
(Emilia-Romagna, Italy) - [VM 92]

About the Winery:
The story of Lambrusco is closely intertwined with the Chiarli family of Modena, arguably the most important producers of red sparkling wine in the world. The tale begins with Cleto Chiarli, proprietor of the Modena restaurant Osteria dell’Artigliere in the mid-1800s. As was common for restaurateurs and innkeepers in those days, Chiarli made his own wine to sell at the osteria. Naturally, the wine was made from Lambrusco, the area’s primary grape variety, and it was well received by customers—so much so that in 1860 Chiarli was emboldened to found Emilia Romagna’s first wine-producing company, the Cantina Cleto Chiarli. The company thrived and, eventually, under the Chiarli 1860 name, became the largest privately owned producer of Lambrusco.

By the turn of the 21st century, the business was in the hands of Cleto Chiarli’s great-grandsons, Mauro and Anselmo Chiarli, who decided to spin off a new production center that would move away from mass-market Lambrusco into a more artisanal, quality-driven style. In 2002, they began building a new facility to produce a higher-end line of Lambrusco wines using carefully selected, estate-grown grapes and state-of-the-art equipment. The new company was named Cleto Chiarli after the founder.

About this Wine:
The Vigneto Cialdini is Cleto Chiarli's top-of-the-line Lambrusco Grasparossa. With the 2023 vintage the wine has moved into the Vecchia Modena line, as Vecchia Modena Nero. The single vineyard is located in the heart of the Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro denomination, where this member of the Lambrusco family has been cultivated since time immemorial. The wine is made through a single fermentation under pressure, rather than the normal two-fermentation process of almost all other sparkling wines. This is in the brut range, with a slight sweetness detectable. Vigneto Cialdini is the name of the vineyard, dedicated to Enrico Cialdini, who was a famous general during the unification of Italy. 

Perfect for a light aperitivo, brunch, or on its own at any time of day. Try it also with aged cheeses and pasta with ragù!

Ratings & Reviews

92 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2024 Vecchia Modena Nero Noir smolders up from the glass with dark depths of crushed violet, black cherries, sage and stone dust, creating a haunting bouquet. It is elegant in style, with silken waves of ripe wild berry fruits further elevated by subtle citrus tones. The finish is marked by chalky mineral intensity, pleasantly chewy and exceptionally long." - Eric Guido (Dec 2025)