Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
The Corvina Veronese comes from Tenuta Costalunga in Valpolicella Classica, while the Merlot is grown on the morainic hills of Lake Garda. The vineyards include hillside sites at S. Ambrogio di Valpolicella with south-east exposure, as well as sites on the Garda morainic hills. Elevations range from approximately 50–60 m to 300–350 m above sea level. The soils are predominantly Cretaceous and calcareous, with clay. The vines average 20 years of age and are trained using the Guyot system.
Grapes
Corvina Veronese and Merlot. The wine is produced as a personal grape selection renewed every ten years; exact varietal proportions are not specified for the published 2017 vintage.
Vinification
Harvest takes place in the first week of October. Grapes are handpicked and manually sorted into small 5 kg crates, then gently dried in dry, well-ventilated lofts. Slow fermentation proceeds on the skins for 15–20 days.
Ageing
The wine matures for two years in a single 30 hl Slavonian oak barrel. The combination of gentle grape drying and extended barrel ageing contributes structure, balance and refinement.
Technical data
Rosso del Veneto Indicazione Geografica Tipica. The published technical sheet covers the 2017 vintage.
Tasting profile
Intense ruby red. The bouquet is intense and fruity, with cherry, sour cherry and small forest berries accompanied by spicy notes. The main wine page repeats this fruity and spicy description under both bouquet and taste, while the technical sheet characterizes the palate as warm, full-bodied and strongly structured.
Serving and pairing
Serve at 18°C. Pair with roasted game, grilled red meat or aged cheeses. It may also be enjoyed on its own as a contemplative wine.
Label / history
The project began in 1997 to mark Alberto Zenato’s thirtieth birthday, when he created a personal selection of grapes. Every ten years he renews the wine by choosing a blend intended to express the territory to which he and his family belong. The combination of Valpolicella Classica Corvina Veronese and Merlot from the Lake Garda morainic hills links the wine to two places central to the family’s history.
