Corte Sant'Alda Recioto della Valpolicella DOC

Corte Sant'Alda Recioto della Valpolicella DOC from Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella by Corte Sant'Alda Other White And Red Dessert Wines (6 x 50 cl)

Marinella Camerani is on a mission to create authentic wines that are strongly connected to the local terroir. Manipulation and intervention are reduced to a minimum, in keeping with the ideal natural balance which is the principle that rules the estate. Continuous research and experimenting, both in the vineyard and in the winery, rediscovering old abandoned practices, techniques that have been replaced by modernity for its own sake, are the daily enterprise of Marinella and her family. Amarone made from half-shrivelled grapes to produce a wine which falls firmly into the 'impegnativo' category, this is beauty and the beast rolled into one: chewy plums, bitter cherries, mocha coffee and what Oz Clarke describes rather well as 'bruised sourness.' The grapes are sourced from various sites with an average altitude of 300 metres and dried in a south-facing breeze-cooled drying loft in small wooden crates, eventually pressed towards the end of February. The cold winter temperatures, the long period of fermentation on the skins and the use of wood during vinification encourage the development of the wine's unique aromas. (12 x 75 cl)

Corte Sant'Alda Amarone Della Valpolicella DOC from Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella by Corte Sant'Alda Powerful Reds (12 x 75 cl)

Marinella Camerani is on a mission to create authentic wines that are strongly connected to the local terroir. Manipulation and intervention are reduced to a minimum, in keeping with the ideal natural balance which is the principle that rules the estate. Continuous research and experimenting, both in the vineyard and in the winery, rediscovering old abandoned practices, techniques that have been replaced by modernity for its own sake, are the daily enterprise of Marinella and her family. Ca' Fiui is the hillside settlement that was already known in ancient times where, nestling among vineyards and olive trees, the Corte Sant'Alda winery now stands. From the site's gentle, sun-drenched slopes come the well-ripened grapes that give weight and complexity to this youthful but characterful Valpolicella. This red is a blend of Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara to produce a pleasantly juicy red with a nice rasp of acidity. Harvesting is done manually; grapes are then fermented partly in truncated cone-shaped oak vats, where maceration lasts roughly 15 days. (12 x 75 cl)

Marinella Camerani is on a mission to create authentic wines that are strongly connected to the local terroir. Manipulation and intervention are reduced to a minimum, in keeping with the ideal natural balance which is the principle that rules the estate. Continuous research and experimenting, both in the vineyard and in the winery, rediscovering old abandoned practices, techniques that have been replaced by modernity for its own sake, are the daily enterprise of Marinella and her family. Ripasso wine has been traditional in the Veneto for a long time. The best young Valpolicella is put into tanks or barrels that still contain the lees of the recioto for which they were previously used. When mixed with the young wine, active yeast cells in this sediment precipitate a second fermentation increasing the alcoholic content. As a result of the care in the winery this deep red coloured wine has a bitter-sweet recioto character as well as a smooth chocolatey texture.and after 24 months of ageing it confers intense ripe morello cherry flavours and plummy mouthfeel. (12 x 75 cl)

Corte Sant'Alda Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore DOC from Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella by Corte Sant'Alda Soft & Supple Reds (12 x 75 cl)

Ca' Fiui is the hillside settlement that was already known in ancient times where, nestling among vineyards and olive trees, the Corte Sant'Alda winery now stands. From the site's gentle, sun-drenched slopes come the well-ripened grapes that give weight and complexity to this youthful but characterful Valpolicella. The brief maturation in oak, has produced a wine with an appealing degree of complexity, in which spicy sensations prevail over fruity ones, well-structured and elegant this is a wine to enjoy. (12 x 75 cl)

Seven gentlemen, on august 23, 1933, set an appointment in the offices of Francesco Betteloni, notary public, to sign the deed giving birth to the Cantina Sociale Valpolicella. Today, the Cantina Valpolicella directs and coordinates the production of approximately 200 grape-growers with vineyards covering a total of 450 hectares. All these are located in the classic Valpolicella hillside zone. All have the same dedication and passion as the original founders. They work together and in their mutual interests to turn member producer's grapes into high quality wines, performing activities that improve winemaking and grape-growing knowledge and culture. The vineyards are situated on about 450 hectares in the classical Valpolicella Hills area Northwest of Verona, which are mostly concentrated in the town of Negrar. The most used system of cultivation is the traditional Pergola system, with about 2,500-3,000 plants per hectare, while the average age of the vines is 20 years. The cultivation of the vineyard has among its primary objectives the maximum possible degree of respect for nature: for this reason, biological techniques are used, and pesticides are used as little as possible. A blend of Corvina and Rondinella this wine is made from grapes located in the heart of the classic Valpolicella zone on the Negrar hills, between 200 and 350 metres above sea level, and is made up of terrains of various origins, from calcareous to loamy, from volcanic to alluvial. The harvest is done entirely by hand, with many selections for special wines, such as the Amarone, produced from single vineyards to exalt its characteristics. The selected grapes are dried and vinification takes place at the end of January. The fermentation progresses slowly, thanks to low winter temperatures, until it is blocked by light decanting and filtering, to maintain a discreet amount of sugars and obtain a sweet wine. Dark ruby red coloured wine with an intense bouquet of wild cherry fruit, spice, choccolate and a seemingly endless succession of nuances. The palate is an astonishing combination of unusual structure and sweetness with unexpected suppleness and drinkability. Available in 50cl bottles. (6 x 50 cl)

With the same chunky depth of Amarone this has a sweetness that makes it ideal as a post prandial drink with nuts and cheese. (6 x 75 cl)