Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
The fruit comes from organic vineyards in Verona.
Grapes
The blend comprises 15 varieties, including four white grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Garganega and Trebbiano Toscano. The red grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Oseleta, Teroldego, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Sangiovese and Marzemino.
Vinification
Harlequin is produced only in exceptional vintages. Celestino Gaspari supervises the selective hand-harvesting of individual bunches. Some varieties are dried naturally on trays for 40 days to concentrate their aromas and sugars. The whole harvest is pressed as whole bunches and fermented with native yeasts in concrete tanks for about 30 days. Draining and settling take almost two weeks.
Ageing
The wine matures for 30 months in new 225 L French oak barrels. It is bottled without filtration and then rests in bottle for at least two further years.
Tasting profile
Rich and many-layered, with a complex balance of aromas and flavours and a vibrant character. Ageing in French oak gives it a velvety texture and balanced structure, while bottle maturation adds complexity and length to the finish.
Label / history
The label is inspired by Harlequin and represents both the playful and serious aspects of the blend. It depicts his colourful costume, a delicate mask and a barely visible tear that may express either joy or sadness. The cloak’s tomato-like patches refer to the story of a hungry performer who played both sad and happy roles for wealthy audiences in return for food and drink.
“Zyme” means “yeast” in Ancient Greek. The winery’s pentagonal logo represents five elements of winemaking: people, vines, land, sun and water. Celestino Gaspari founded the winery and officially began producing wine in 2003, following an interest in winemaking that began in childhood. He later acquired knowledge and experience at Giuseppe Quintarelli’s winery after meeting Quintarelli, his future father-in-law. Gaspari subsequently established Zyme in the heart of Valpolicella Classico. The winery comprises a modern vinification building and a cellar carved into a sandstone wall.
