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Zenato Winery’s tagline “The soul of Lugana and the heart of Valpolicella” encapsulates the essence of this winery located in Veneto in northeastern Italy.  Photo courtesy of Zenato Sergio Zenato and his wife, Carla, founded Zenato in 1960. Sergio’s life long dream was to create a winery and produce memorable wines reflecting the “fruits of the earth” from which they were grown. His vision was realized and today these expressive wines are the result of his tireless efforts, love for his land and passion for quality. Both children, Nadia and Alberto Zenato, now run the winery. Nadia manages the marketing and promotional activity and Alberto is the winemaker who oversees all aspects of production.  From left to right: Nadia, Carla, and Alberto Zenato Photo courtesy of Zenato Zenato has 95 hectares of vineyards that stretch from the banks of Lake Garda in Lugana to the hills of Valpolicella’s “classic zone” in the province of Verona.  The Santa Cristina estate is located in San Benedetto di Lugana where Trebbiano di Lugana grapes are grown. Lugana DOC is a small denomination that produces only white wines and is renowned for its distinctive morainic terroir of penetrating humid clay soils and rich minerals deposited by the glacial moraines of thousands of years ago. The wines are naturally high in acidity with characteristic aromas of white flowers and citrus. Zenato’s Costalunga estate in Valpolicella produces the famous grape varieties Corvina, Rondinella, and Oseleta. Valpolicella is considered the most famous red wine area in Veneto and was given DOC status in the 1960s. There are many styles produced here such as Classico, Superiore, Amarone and Ripasso and they range from light and easy-drinking to powerful and complex wines. I had the pleasure of tasting three Zenato wines that are great examples of what this winery produces.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Lugana di San Benedetto DOC 2018 This wine is made from 100% Trebbiano di Lugana harvested from the San Benedetto vineyard on the south shore of Lake Garda.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss A pale lemon color opens to heady aromas of floral, citrus and stone fruit. Beautiful notes of white flowers, peach, pear and minerality sate the palate with a hint of apricot on the finish. This wine has a round, creamy mouthfeel that is blended nicely with crisp acidity. Drink as an aperitivo or serve with fish, light salads and Asian cuisine. Alcohol: 13% SRP: $20 Alanera Rosso Veronese IGT 2017 This wine is a blend of 55% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 10% Corvinone, 5% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Fifty percent of the grapes harvested for this wine are partially dried for 45 to 60 days. The highly concentrated juice from this process adds an array of aromas, flavors and complexity to the blend. A period of 12 months is spent aging in French barrels with another three months of bottle aging.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Lovely aromas of cherry, plum, tobacco, floral and spice segue onto the palate with added flavors of dried herbs, prune and vanilla. It is a perfect blend of silky tannins and acidity with the bonus of a long and luxurious finish. Serve with meat, stews, aged cheese and fatty fish. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $20 Ripassa Valpolicella Superiore DOC 2015 This wine is a blend of 85% Corvina, 10% Rondinella and 5% Oseleta. The Ripasso method is a technique where the Valpolicella wine is re-passed onto the pressed dried grape skins from which Amarone is made that are still warm and rich in sugar. A second alcoholic fermentation begins which increases the alcoholic content and the wine becomes richer in color and bouquet. The wine is aged in French oak for 18 months and an additional six months in the bottle before release.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss This is an elegant wine with intense aromas of dark fruit, plum, spice and forest floor. The palate is layered with rich, ripe fruit such as cherry, plum and blackberry. Hints of baking spice, dark chocolate and minerality show through with creamy tannins and are nicely balanced with acidity and alcohol on a long finish. Serve with meat, game, pasta and hard cheese.
Alcohol: 14.5% SRP: $30 These are expressive wines and a great representation of Zenato. And, they have definitely captured the heart and soul of Lugana and Valpolicella! Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com It’s that time of year again for putting up seasonal decorations, attending holiday parties, buying an appropriate gift for the host/hostess and shopping for presents which seems to get more challenging as the years go by. Needless to say, it can be quite stressful. However, when it comes to buying gifts for the wine lovers and spirits drinkers on my list, I always have fun picking out just the right bottle or two for each recipient. And thanks to Bertani winery, shopping just got a little easier for me. Bertani produces a variety of world-class wines that will impress and please anyone’s palate. I recently received four samples of assorted wines from this iconic wine producer.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss The brothers Giovan Battista and Gaetano Bertani founded Bertani Winery in 1857 in Quinto di Valpantena, north of Verona in the region of Veneto, Italy. With their winemaking talent, quality wine, business acumen and innovation, the brothers quickly distinguished themselves throughout the winemaking area of Verona. Their drive for quality and continuous improvement in the vineyards and winery were passed on from generation to generation. In 2011 another family-owned company of Tuscan wineries bought Bertani, but management and operations are kept separately. Bertani has over 200 hectares of vineyards in the most ideal areas of Verona province. In all of Italy, the highest number of DOC wines originates from here and it is famous worldwide for wines such as Valpolicella, Soave and Amarone. Bertani has two historic wineries, one in Grezzana and the other in Arbizzano di Negrar. The map below illustrates the territories where their vineyards are.  Map courtesy of Bertani Soave Vintage Edition DOC 2016 This wine is made with 100% Garganega grapes harvested from vineyards in the Soave hills. The area has a mild climate with very complex soils of calcareous origin and clay-loam texture and is rich in organic matter. All of this contributes to making full-bodied wines with elegant fruity notes and longevity. Aging takes place on the lees in concrete vats covered with glass bricks. This historic container allows for a slow and gradual aging process.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Heavenly floral aromas are accompanied by stone fruit, apricot and a hint of savory. Stone fruit continues onto the palate with melon, vibrant acidity and a touch of minerality. Floral and peach linger on the palate for a long finish. This wine is complex and bursting with personality. Serve as an aperitif or pair with seafood, white meat and spicy Asian cuisine. Alcohol: 12.5% SRP: $30.99 Secco Bertani Original Vintage Edition 2015 This wine is a magical blend of 80% different varieties of original Corvina clones, 10% Sangiovese Grosso and 5% each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Grapes are sourced from vineyards in the hills surrounding the historic Bertani estate in Grezzana, in the Valpantena DOC. There is a significant difference in the temperature range between day and night with long sun exposure during the day, resulting in high-quality fruit production. The soil is composed of calcareous-marl that contains large amounts of iron giving the wines spicy, mineral notes. This Vintage Edition is made by recreating the old recipe, style and taste from the first Secco Bertani vintage in 1857. The wine was aged for 12 months in traditional Veronese cherry and chestnut barrels made from local wood.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Lovely aromas of raspberry, sweet cherry, baking spices and a hint of herbs and pepper are the intro to this vibrant wine. The palate offers sour cherry, cranberry, red plum and spice. This is a luscious wine with medium tannins and a long finish of pepper, cherry and mineral notes. Serve with meats, stew, pasta and appetizers. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $25.99 Valpolicella Ripasso DOC 2016 This is a blend of 85% Corvina Veronese, 10% Merlot and 5% Rondinella. Grapes are sourced from the hills of Valpantena and Valpolicella Classica areas. The soil is composed mainly of calcareous-marl that is volcanic and rich in iron. Ripasso is made using a very old winemaking practice called the “ripasso method”. The young Valpolicella wine is re-passed over grape skins used in Amarone production. This method gives the freshness of the Valpolicella and the dried grapes introduce rich and concentrated flavors of chocolate and sour cherry to the wine. It is aged for nine months in French oak barrels.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss The nose offers aromas of red and dark fruit, spice and herbs. This is a tasty and complex wine with layers of cherry, red berries, anise, pepper and a hint of vanilla and nutmeg. It is well balanced with a delightfully long finish of fruit and savory. This wine can be served with many dishes such as creamy mushroom risotto, grilled meat, hearty stews and aged cheese. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $25.99 Bertani Amarone Classico DOCG 2009 This wine is a traditional blend of 80% Corvina Veronese and 20% Rondinella sourced from the Tenuta Novare hills in the heart of the Valpolicella Classica area. Soils in Tenuta Novare range between clay, calcareous soils rich in iron and manganese and soils rich in basalt that helps to give Amarone its distinctive quality. Bertani has 550-acres of vineyards here that are devoted entirely to the production of Amarone. Bertani began making Amarone Classico in 1958 and their production methods and packaging have remained the same. Grapes are set aside to dry naturally on racks made of bamboo canes and they remain here for about 120 days until the grapes lose 60% of their water content. Slow fermentation takes place in concrete vats and the wine is then aged in Slavonian oak barrels for at least six years. Another 12 months of maturing is spent in the bottle before release.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss This Amarone is opulent! It opens with intoxicating aromas of plum, cherry, baking spice and a hint of tea rose. The aromas spill onto the palate with layers of red berries, toasted nuts, anise, spice and a touch of vanilla. It is a beautiful integration of acidity and tannins that beg you to take another sip and savor every mouthful. This is an elegant wine that can be enjoyed on its own or pair it with red meat, white meat, game, risotto or aged cheese.
Alcohol: 15% SRP: $129.00 I hope that I have piqued your interest and perhaps when checking off your gift list for the holidays, you’ll treat yourself to a bottle of Bertani wine! Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com  This week was tossed into a shaker and what poured out was nothing like I had originally planned! I was all set to attend the Consorzio Valpolicella Tasting & Seminars in NYC yesterday. Unfortunately, a client pre-empted my plans and the day took a different direction.  I have been to several Italian wine tastings that have included the Veneto Region. Valpolicella comes from the Veneto region of northeastern Italy and is the most famous wine district in that region. Valpolicella is a blended wine. The Corvina grape makes up most of the blend (usually up to 75%) with Rondinella and Molinara rounding out the mix. Sangiovese, Negrara or Barbera are other grapes that are used as well. Corvina is the grape of choice for higher quality Valpolicella.  Since I didn’t make it to the event, a sweet friend found a bottle of 2013 Folonari Valpolicella for me to taste. This red blend is a mix of Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes. The aromas were subtle with fresh fruit and pine. The palate offered cherry, cranberry, pepper and herbs. It was light and smooth with soft tannins and a hint of vanilla bean on the finish. Very easy to drink. Founded in 1825 by Francesco Folonari, the winery is located in the heart of the Veneto region http://folonariwines.com The sun is shining and I’m going to try and reconstruct the rest of this week!
Happy Wednesday! Cheers! Penina |
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