Valpolicella

Gianfranco, the vineyard's former owner, was known as Gianfrè – or Nanfrè to his friends – and it is his nickname that gave the wine its name. Corvina and Rondinella, in a ratio of 70 to 30, are grown at Colognola ai Colli and Illasi at an altitude of 200 metres, on medium-heavy clay soil, trained using the Guyot or pergola methods. Harvested by hand into crates, destemmed and gently pressed, the must ferments for eight to ten days with selected yeasts at a controlled temperature, whilst malolactic fermentation takes place naturally alongside this. This is followed by six months in stainless steel, during which the fine lees are stirred every week.

Brigaldara's Valpolicella is mainly made from Corvina and Corvinone grapes. The timing of the harvest is very important for this wine, so that its flavours are very delicate and its sensory balance is influenced by the precisely measured acidity. It expresses the characteristic flavours of the valley: from cherries to spicy notes, which are more or less pronounced depending on the vintage. Its beautiful and radiant balance is achieved by a short maturation in steel, which perfectly enhances its sensory characteristics. SUPERIORE.DE

XVII – the Roman seventeen honours the century in which the Rizzardi family acquired its first vineyards in Negrar in 1678. Since then, the house has cultivated the best vineyards in the Classico zone – pojega, Calcarole, Rovereti – on calcareous clay soils in the hills above the plain. Corvina and Corvinone form the backbone of this cuvée, with Rondinella, Merlot and Croatina providing the accents. Bright purple red in the glass. Shadow cherry and black pepper on the nose, with a hint of cherry blossom and Mediterranean herbs. Round and juicy on the palate, with an invigorating freshness and an earthy, herbal finish. Proof that Valpolicella has depth and character even without Appassimento – and an ideal introduction to the world of Guerrieri Rizzardi. SUPERIORE.DE

Tedeschi's Valpolicella Lucchine is a lively, fruity red wine without the use of wood. It impresses with juicy cherry and berry fruit, fine acidity and flavours of violets, herbs and spices. Light, fresh and elegant - a classic full of character with great drinking pleasure. SUPERIORE.DE

Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella, complemented by Molinara and other traditional varieties: the recipe for this Valpolicella is tried and tested, with the grapes growing on clay and limestone soils, both in the classic heartland and in the eastern part of the wine-growing region. The Tedeschi family, from Pedemonte, ages it for four months in stainless steel and then allows it to rest for two months in the bottle before it leaves the winery. A clear ruby red. Cherry, redcurrant and strawberry, with a hint of pepper. On the palate: crisp acidity, soft tannins, plenty of fruit and freshness. A Valpolicella that accompanies the entire meal without ever demanding centre stage, but rather brings the whole table together. SUPERIORE.DE

Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Cabernet Sauvignon from the hills between Illasi and Mezzane – the eastern heart of Valpolicella. The Castagnedi brothers leave the grapes to dry for twenty days after hand-picking, using the same appassimento technique that characterises their Amarone. Twelve months in French tonneaux give the wine structure without obscuring its fruit. Dense ruby red in colour, with a nose of sour cherry, wild berries and black pepper over a base of cocoa and liquorice. Velvety on the palate, full-bodied and with well-integrated tannins. A "small Amarone" at a great price. SUPERIORE.DE

Zenato has stood for reliable quality from the Veneto region since 1960 – no experiments, but solid craftsmanship over generations. The home of this Valpolicella Superiore is the gentle vineyards in the soft hills of Valpolicella Classica, in the heart of Sant'Ambrogio. Corvina Veronese forms the backbone with 85 per cent, supplemented by Rondinella and Corvinone from the 35 hectares of own vineyards. The grapes are harvested by hand in October, de-stemmed and macerated in stainless steel for ten days before the wine matures for twelve months in large oak barrels.

This traditional cuvée is a delight even in its youth. Made from exceptional grapes, it reveals the ripe fruit and richness of the three classic vineyards. A deep ruby-garnet colour with violet highlights. A full bouquet of dusty violets and roses, evolving into spiced confectionery and crushed cherries. On the palate, fresh cherries, mixed herbs and undergrowth emerge – all well-balanced – lending the wine a lightness and, at the same time, a complexity that keeps you coming back for more. SUPERIORE.DE

In 1857, the brothers Giovan Battista and Gaetano Bertani founded their winery in the Valpantena valley, east of Verona. Not in the more famous Valpolicella Classica, but here – in a valley that has since borne the estate's name. A commercial document from the Verona Chamber of Commerce dating from 1888 confirms that Bertani Valpolicella Valpantena was already being marketed worldwide at that time as one of the finest examples of Italian wine. That was before Amarone, before the crus, before everything else. 80% Corvina Veronese, 20% Rondinella. Six months in concrete tanks, three months in the bottle. Direct, fresh, uncomplicated.

Steep slopes, barren limestone, untamed nature – the Monti Garbi above Mezzane di Sotto are not pleasing wine country. When the Castagnedi brothers opened up these rugged heights in 1989, people in eastern Valpolicella were still focussing on quantity. They focussed on character. The grapes are harvested by hand and gently pressed. In October, the young wine undergoes its second birth: re-fermentation on the pomace of the estate's own Amarone – ripasso in the original sense. Malolactic fermentation and ageing in Liters tonneaux lend depth without heaviness. Ruby red in colour, juicy and enveloping, infused with a spicy freshness that owes its signature to the chalky white skeletal soils. Great value! SUPERIORE.DE

Produced using the appassimento or Amarone method, this Valpolicella has a rich ruby-violet colour. The nose has compact notes of ripe cherries, blackberries, some cloves, elderberries and liquorice, with subtle notes of chocolate in the background. Silky texture with an abundance of sweet fruit, balanced by salty minerals and savoury spices. A hint of sour tangerine and citrus adds further depth. The finish is long, colourful and structured, with a hint of sweet tannins providing grip. Rich and powerful with a lot of melting on the palate, very classic! SUPERIORE.DE

Rêverie means daydream. Gaspari deliberately chose the French word – for a wine that requires no concentration, no patience, no prior knowledge. You pour, you drink, you are happy. This is more difficult to create than it sounds. 2025 was a warm, generous vintage in Valpolicella – mediterranean fruit, ripe flavours, a natural balance between power and freshness. The fact that the Rêverie nevertheless remains light is due to the decision: early harvest, short skin contact, no intervention, no wood. Celestino Gaspari does not intervene in a wine that shines on its own – he leaves it.

A top-class Valpolicella, fine and haunting spicy flavour with a full and fleshy fruit development of blackberries and cherries. Medium to full-bodied with good intensity and a firm tannin structure, with a wonderfully pleasant bitter note on the long finish. The delicious harmony between aroma and flavour is a delight. SUPERIORE.DE

In the 1820s, wine merchants knew three Bardolino crus that existed in Switzerland's grand hotels alongside Burgundy and Beaujolais. In 1968, they were lost in the DOC regulations. They have been back since 2021 – and Montebaldo, the northernmost and highest subzone on the foothills of Monte Baldo, is perhaps the most exciting. Guerrieri Rizzardi's response to this rediscovery: 95 per cent Corvina – the highest percentage the winery has ever bottled –supplemented by a touch of Rondinella, vinified completely without wood. This is not a concession to light summer enjoyment. It is a statement about transparency: the grape speaks exclusively here, and the moraine soil of Cavaion gives it a resonance chamber.

"I spent a long time looking for the area in Valpolicella that would best suit my style. Valpolicella Morandina is the freshest and sharpest interpretation of my red wines." Graziano Prà

Brigaldara's Ripasso is created by the secondary fermentation of Valpolicella wine on the pomace of Amarone della Valpolicella. The contact between the Valpolicella wine and the Amarone marc, which is still rich in sugar, triggers a new fermentation. Bright ruby red colour. Bright and cheerful with aromas reminiscent of dried cherry, plum, pear and apricot. This wine shows plenty of bright fruit definition with subtle hints of tobacco, spice and rose petal. The finish is smooth, polished and soft in tannin structure. Very structured and balanced, gaining complexity and finesse with further bottle ageing. SUPERIORE.DE

The grapes for this Ripasso come from the Marne Bianche vineyard at Tenuta Maternigo – an estate that the Tedeschi family has been running for generations. Corvina and Corvinone (35% each), Rondinella (20 per cent) and 10% indigenous varieties such as Rossignola, Oseleta, Negrara and Dindarella grow here on moraine loam and limestone at a density of 5,500 vines per hectare. Vinification follows the classic Ripasso method: after 15 days' maceration at 28°C, the young Valpolicella undergoes secondary fermentation on the pomace of Amarone and Recioto – for eight to ten days at a cool 18°C. This second fermentation lends the wine body and depth without stifling its freshness. It is then aged for 15 months in Slavonian oak and a further six months in the bottle.

Pojega is a historic vineyard next to the famous Pojega garden, which was purchased by the Rizzardi family in the 17th century. This single-vineyard Valpolicella skilfully combines the fruitiness and aromatic richness of the traditional grape, enhanced by the Ripasso method, with a well-proportioned body and exceptional finesse. Great value with an almost magnetic attraction! SUPERIORE.DE

Tenuta Missoj is a small winery in Mizzole with just 3.5 hectares of vineyards and is owned by the Campagnola family. The vineyards are situated at an altitude of 200 metres on a well-ventilated and exposed hill, where the grapes can reach perfect and complete ripeness. The new prestige wine Valpolicella Ripasso "Tenuta di Missoj" comes from these soils, which already impressively showcased the typical characteristics of the appellation in the 2019 debut vintage.