Tedeschi

Tedeschi is synonymous with Valpolicella and Amarone: the family has had ties to the region since 1630 and has its winery in Pedemonte di Valpolicella. As well as reds, the estate also produces white wines, including this Pinot Grigio with the 'delle Venezie' designation of origin, a DOC that unites the Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Trentino under a single name. The bouquet offers notes of lemon zest, green apple and ripe melon, with a stony undertone. On the palate, it is light, crisp and juicy, with a clean, straightforward finish. A white wine that knows exactly what it wants to be: crisp, fresh and cheerful, without any pretensions. 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

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

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.

The name means "motherland" – and the Tedeschi family has indeed found a special spot of land with the 84-hectare vineyard between Tregnago and Mezzane di Sotto, which they acquired in 2006. Extensive soil mapping identified real crus here, including the Impervio vineyard – named after its impassable steep slope at an altitude of 400 metres. White and yellow limestone marl of moraine origin characterise the terroir and give the wine its characteristic freshness. Corvina (40%), Corvinone (30%) and Rondinella (30%) are harvested overripe in mid to late October and fermented as whole bunches – a conscious decision for structure and depth of flavour. After 20 days of maceration, the wine matures for 18 months in Slavonian oak and a further six months in the bottle.

La Fabriseria comes across as an elegant, medium-bodied Amarone. Its intensity, tannin structure and density are hard to beat in this price range. Very juicy on the palate, full-bodied and soft, with notes of cherries, cardamom and cloves. And always with the elegant seriousness of the Tedeschi family's great flagship of the same name. SUPERIORE.DE

Two details are enough to pinpoint the origin of this Amarone: marl beneath the vines – that is, clay and limestone with a high rock content – and slopes facing between south-west and south-east, as indicated by the name, which refers to the azimuth, 180. The vines are situated on the hills of Mezzane and Tregnago and are on average 20 years old. The Tedeschi family, who have had roots in the area since 1630, favour hillside plots because they believe that poor soils produce more complex and structured wines. The grapes are dried for four months under controlled humidity conditions, followed by fermentation lasting 40 to 60 days at 15 degrees, which leaves just 3 grams of residual sugar. The wine matures for up to three years in Slavonian oak, after which it rests in the bottle for at least half a year.

In the 6th century AD, Cassiodorus, minister to Theoderic, King of the Ostrogoths, wrote to the treasurer of Venetia requesting a supply of a special wine for the royal table: the Acinaticum. He described it as "of such a regal colour that one might believe purple itself had its origin in it" – a wine "so dense that it is meant to be eaten rather than drunk". This forerunner of today's Recioto was already the result of the appassimento technique that continues to characterise Valpolicella to this day. The Tedeschi family, rooted in Valpolicella since 1630, preserves this heritage at Capitel Fontana.

The three Tedeschi siblings Antonietta, Sabrina and Riccardo, who also select the three barrels from which the blend is made each year, give their name to the "Ansari", which is only available in small quantities. Rich bouquet of dried fruit, sultanas, rum pot and chocolate. Firm on the palate with an excellent structure, the opulent fruit centre is joined by balsamic, herbal notes and a piquant bitter note on the long finish. The perfect addition to the famous family winery's top-class Amarone range since the 2016 debut vintage. SUPERIORE.DE

Capitel Monte Olmi 2018 takes things to another level. It coats the glass with a deep purple glow and exudes a dark and seductive bouquet of redcurrants, sultanas, black liquorice and a hint of spiced citrus. The brooding, velvety texture is complemented by juicy acids and tart red fruits that drench everything they touch, leaving a complex layer of savoury spices, minerals and fine tannins. This wine is structured, long and full of character, but with a balance that will carry it for many years in the cellar. SUPERIORE.DE

The Tedeschi family purchased the Monte Olmi vineyard in Pedemonte in 1918; it gained its own status in the 1960s: Lorenzo Tedeschi recognised that this slope produced something unique and vinified the harvestseparately. In 1964, the first Capitel Monte Olmi was produced – one of the first single-vineyard wines in Valpolicella and, to this day, the estate’s flagship wine. The vines are planted across 2.5 hectares using the Veronese pergola system, on terraces with dry stone walls, on a steep south-west-facing slope at an altitude of 180 to 200 metres. The soil, of moraine origin, is clay-limestone; calcium and clay are in balance, which the estate believes gives the wine structure and depth of colour. The slope drains away heavy rainfall, the deep, clay-rich subsoil stores water for dry spells, and the vines' modest growth yields small, concentrated harvests. Harvest takes place from mid- to late September; the grapes are then left to wither for four months in a controlled environment before being gently pressed. The wine ferments at just 15 degrees for between 40 and 60 days, followed by four years in Slavonian oak and a year's ageing in the bottle.

Strong ruby red. Opulent aromas of dark berries, mint, spices, forest floor and undergrowth. In the balanced, powerful drink very clear, juicy and tight. Spreads comfortably with notes of plum, raspberry compote and chocolate. This great Amarone captivates from the first sip - its long, silky finish leaves nothing to be desired. SUPERIORE.DE

Capitel Monte Olmi 2018 takes things to another level. It coats the glass with a deep purple glow and exudes a dark and seductive bouquet of redcurrants, sultanas, black liquorice and a hint of spiced citrus. The brooding, velvety texture is complemented by juicy acids and tart red fruits that drench everything they touch, leaving a complex layer of savoury spices, minerals and fine tannins. This wine is structured, long and full of character, but with a balance that will carry it for many years in the cellar. SUPERIORE.DE

At the beginning of the 20th century, La Fabriseria referred to the parish council of Sant'Ambrogio, the Fabbriceria, commissioned to build a new church. Grandfather Riccardo Tedeschi was one of the Fabbriceri – and it was customary for each councillor to bring his best wine to the meeting. At the end, a toast was made to God and good work. This rite sealed contracts and friendships; today it seals one of the most precious wines of the house. In 2000, the family acquired the seven-hectare vineyard in Le Pontare, between Fumane and Sant'Ambrogio, and planted it with exceptional density: 7,200 vines per hectare in Guyot training, at an altitude of 450 metres with a view of the entire valley, Verona and Lake Garda. The soil tells of the Cretaceous period: pink-white limestone marl, rich in calcium carbonate and iron oxide, interspersed with grey-yellow clay slate – a terrain that provides structure and balance, aromatic complexity and longevity.

Two stone crosses stand in the vineyard of Le Pontare, probably of Celtic origin, signposts for pilgrims on the path to a nearby sanctuary. According to legend, Dante Alighieri also passed by here on his wanderings through the Veneto, perhaps in search of that vin pretto – the pure wine – which he praised so highly in his Convivio. If you stand between these crosses today, at 450 metres above sea level, you can look down over the entire Valpolicella Classica valley, Verona and the shimmering waters of Lake Garda.