Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa (GV) is family-owned and operated by the Swaldo family. It has become an amazing Stark County, OH treasure.
As part of the family’s legacy, they created a Family Reserve line of wines crafted from the grapes grown in two vineyards on the property. They wanted the wines to capture the character and essence of the GV estate.
Each wine in the Family Reserves is dedicated to a family member and each of those members named their wine. The wines in the Family Reserve include Lascito (legacy), dedicated to Ted Swaldo, founder of GV; Unita (unity), dedicated to Linda Swaldo, Ted’s wife; Passione (passion), dedicated to general manager Scott Swaldo (Ted and Linda’s son); and Celebrazione (celebration) dedicated to the Marketplace’s retail buyer Christy Blackerby (Ted and Linda’s daughter).
This summer, GV is excited to announce its latest addition to the Family Reserve Wines, the Risata, which means laughter. It is a deep ruby red sangria. The new wine is dedicated and named by a person who has been a part of the family for many years through marriage and integral part of GV’s success, Jeff Hicks.
The Family Reserve collection started in 2015, and Risata is the fifth addition to this estate-grown lineup.
Meet Risata
As the newest addition to the Family Reserve Collection, Risata is rich with the character of grapes from the GV vineyards offering a vibrant burst of fruity notes with a hint of Elderflower and Blueberry sweetness and balanced spice.
Risata is best enjoyed over ice with a splash of sparkling water and citrus slices of your choice. Or, as Jeff suggests, this sangria is medium sweet and ready to drink right out of the bottle or over crushed ice with a splash of soda water or lemon-lime soda.
Jeff has his favorite way to enjoy Risata, “I suggest chilling your bottle of Risata, much like you would a white wine. It is a Sangria after all. Risata should be served over ice, with a splash of sparkling water and slices of whatever citrus you prefer. My favorite combination is a thin slice of blood orange and a slice of lemon.”
Jeff also suggests several foods to enjoy with Risata, including anything grilled – a perfect Sangria pairing!
“I would also suggest pairing Risata with spicy dishes, like a pasta Arrabiata. The subtle sweetness of Risata will balance out the spicy heat from the Arrabiata sauce. Risata will pair beautifully with any summer dish you have in mind!”
The new wine also pairs well with strawberry salads, cheesecake , street tacos, or spicy grilled shrimp. Other features of Risata include:
- Grape Origin-Gervasi Vineyard (1 acre planted in the North and 1 acre in the South Vineyard)
- Aroma–Citrus/Tropical and Red Berry fruits
- Sweetness–Medium
- Flavors–Red Berry fruits with Citrus tones
Celebrate Laughter
Jeff selected the name because laughter has always been a vital part of his life.
“Laughter has always played a big role in my life,” Jeff said. “I consider myself to be a funny person and I come from a long line of joke tellers and funny family members. My father was the ultimate prankster. He kept us all laughing. Laughter can really help you get through some tough things in life.”
Gervasi’s winemaker, David Smith, included Jeff in designing the wine. Jeff also contributed his thoughts on the amazing label, which incorporates a Venetian mask as a symbol of laughter.
“I was grateful that our winemaker, David Smith, included me in several taste tests while he was developing Risata. David knows I prefer big, bold, dry reds like our Abbraccio, Cabernet Sauvignon versus sweet wines, so David made sure the sweetness in Risata is very balanced.
“David also incorporated Elderflower & Blueberry essence into Risata, which really makes it unique. Truth be told, I have never been a big fan of Sangrias, but I thoroughly enjoy Risata! It is the perfect go-to summer wine.”
The artwork for the label was completed by local artist Joshua Humm, with input from Jeff.
“He submitted multiple renditions of Venetian masks, and we just kept tweaking it until we all felt it was right and truly conveyed laughter and joy. I also want to mention that our in-house graphic designer, Jacqueline Wammes, was also helpful. She provided Joshua the proper wine label dimensions and specific colors we have used on previous Family Reserve labels, ensuring a cohesive look across the Family Reserve collection of wine labels. Then our wine label printing company, Eurostampa, went to work. Eurostampa (based in Cincinnati) met with us via Zoom to discuss label finishing options. We were able to include an elegantly subtle tactile effect on the label that is visible as you rotate the bottle in your hand. I just think it turned out beautifully.”
Spend the Summer with Risata
Risata is available by the glass at Gervasi’s restaurants and can be purchased by the bottle at the Marketplace gift shop. What better way to spend summer evenings than dining at the Piazza, GV’s outdoor restaurant, with a wonderful glass of Risata and a whole lot of laughter?
What’s it like to have a Gervasi Family Reserve Wine dedicated to you? Jeff said, “It was certainly an unexpected honor. It was something I never expected. Yes, I am part of the family but only by marriage. So yes, I am touched and honored to have a Family Reserve wine dedicated to me. I hope our guests enjoy it and I also hope they remember to live with laughter!”