From: Valpolicella, Italy
Varietals: 50% Corvina, 20% Corvinone, 25% Rondinella, 5% Croatina
Tasting Notes: Particular note of ripe fruit in a dry and intense wine, which cuddles and fills the mouth. Deep ruby red in color. Distinct and elegant aroma of ripe red fruit and black cherry, with scents of spices and vanilla. Round in the mouth, velvety and harmonic. We recommend serving this slightly chilled, especially during warm evenings.
Pairing: Tasty pasta and rice dishes with seasonal or porcini mushrooms. Chargrilled and roasted beef, lamb, and medium/mature cheeses.
Valpolicella Classico is part of the larger Veneto wine region in northeastern Italy. It was the original Valpolicella region until it was given DOC status in 1968. Valpolicella Classico is located east of Lake Garda, and bordered to the north by the Monti Lessini foothills; because of this, some of the region’s vineyards are at elevations ranging from 150 to 700 meters (500 to 2,300 feet); other vineyards in the region are located on fertile plains. Valpolicella Classico’s climate is generally mild and temperate.
As a wine, Valpolicella has everything you need for all seasons of imbibing. If you’re looking for an easy drinking, inexpensive, perfect-for-summer, light-bodied red wine for your picnic Valpolicella has you covered. If you’re looking for that impressive, age-worthy, expensive, fireside wine in the cold winter months to help warm you from the inside out, Valpolicella has you covered too. It also has different price points and styles in between.
This wine is a Valpolicella Classico Superiore, which is the second of five tiers of style found in the area. If you’re looking for a bit more oompf, and a hint of spice then move on up in price and quality (from the Classicoand look for “Superiore” on the label; this is like Valpolicella Classico, but with more body, a bit more alcohol (minimum is 12%), lots of crunchy red fruit flavors. It might even have some vanilla, clove, and smoke aromas. Superiore, in this case, means the wine will have been aged for one year minimum, with many producers choosing to age their wine in oak.
