Calcarole Amarone Classico della Valpolicella Riserva DOCG

Vineyard and terroir

The vineyard occupies steep, rocky terraces on the Calcarole hillside at 230 m, with a south-west exposure and a particularly warm microclimate. Its reddish-brown limestone soils contain pockets of clay and are rich in calcium. The vines are between 6 and 24 years old and give low yields. The fruit comes from the winery’s own organically farmed vineyards.

Vinification

The grapes are harvested by hand, carefully selected and placed in special drying rooms, where they dry on well-ventilated surfaces. This period, generally around three months but varying by vintage, raises the sugar concentration and concentrates the juice. After gentle pressing, the grapes ferment for one month in stainless-steel tanks at a controlled 20–25 °C. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barriques. The alcohol is produced through the fermentation of the dried grapes, without the addition of spirit.

Ageing

The wine spends 12 months in 5 hL oak barrels, followed by 24 months in 25 hL barrels. The 2015 vintage was bottled on 14 November 2019 and matured for more than another 12 months in the winery’s cellars.

Serving and pairing

Decant for one to two hours before serving.

Vintage notes

The 2015 growing season in Veneto began with a very warm winter and spring and above-average temperatures, followed by an extremely dry summer. Water scarcity placed the vines under considerable stress, increasing polyphenol and sugar levels in the grapes. Harvest started approximately ten days earlier than usual. Vines that withstood the conditions produced grapes with excellent ripeness, while yields were about 10% lower.

Label / history

Calcarole takes its name from the hillside on which its vineyard is situated. Produced in limited quantities since the mid-1980s, it is made only in selected top vintages. Beginning with the 2015 vintage, it has carried the Riserva designation.