Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG

Bertani’s impact on Veneto wine making, particularly in Amarone production, is so considerable that ‘Bertani’ and ‘Amarone’ are nearly synonymous. Their 150+ year history is dotted with groundbreaking initiatives and royal accreditation. While respectful of their past, Bertani strives towards innovation, using progressive techniques and equipment allied with extensive experience and a deeply felt respect for tradition to provide wines of uncompromising quality.

The grapes come from the Tenuta Novare vineyards at Arbizzano di Negrar, in the heart of the Valpolicella Classica area. Their 550 acre vineyards are covered with calcareous-marl soils and are devoted exclusively to the production of Amarone. The vines are vertical-trellised and Guyot trained, with a planting density of 2,025 vines per acre. In 2010, the long winter was followed by a wet February while Spring got off to a faltering start. The summer was characterized by heavy rain while the last stages of ripening were marked by strong temperature swings, which gave excellent accumulation of sugars and resulted in a highly "finessed" wine.

After careful bunch selection, the grapes are taken to drying lofts and laid in a single layer on arèle -- bamboo racks. They remain here for about 120 days, losing up to 60% of their water content. In mid-January the grapes are destemmed and crushed. Maceration at 40°F for about 20 days, then a slow fermentation starts – about 30 days in concrete vats at a maximum temperature of 64°F. The wine was aged in large Slavonian oak barrels, with an average capacity of 60 hl, for about seven years, followed by bottle maturation for at least 12 months.

A huge, dark, port-like nose of intense ripeness with overt tobacco notes: focused and powerful. A huge, ripe blockbuster style. A wonderully full palate of cedar and dark fruits. Monumental in scope.