About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
The grapes come from Villa Rizzardi’s organically cultivated vineyards in Negrar, within Valpolicella Classico Superiore. The vines are 14–44 years old. The vineyards lie near the gardens created by Conte Antonio Rizzardi in 1783.
Grapes
Corvina is the principal component of the blend.
Vinification
The grapes are harvested at maximum ripeness, carefully sorted and destemmed before a short maceration. Fermentation lasts 10 days in stainless-steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 25–28 °C.
A second fermentation follows, using the skins of partially dried grapes previously fermented for Amarone. The method was developed by Masi in the 1960s, registered under the Ripasso trademark and subsequently adopted by other producers in the region.
Ageing
The wine matures for 12 months in 500 L barrels and 2,500 L and 5,000 L casks made from Slavonian and French oak.
Tasting profile
Rich and generous, with bright fruit and berry aromas and flavours from Corvina, accompanied by gentle spice. Corvinone and Rondinella reinforce its structure, while Merlot contributes roundness and a silky texture when young. The ripasso process gives it a distinctive, complex character, with greater richness and concentration than Valpolicella Classico.
Label / history
The wine is made only in selected years and released in limited quantities in individually numbered bottles.
Guerrieri Rizzardi was formed through the union of the Counts Guerrieri and Counts Rizzardi, two Veronese wine-producing families. The Guerrieri family owned a centuries-old estate with vineyards and cellars in Bardolino, as well as the small Dolcè property in Valdadige. The Rizzardi family acquired vineyards in Negrar in 1678 and built the Pojega cellar soon afterward. An estate with vineyards and a cellar in Costeggiola, in the Soave Classico area, was purchased in 1970.
The winery remains a Rizzardi family business. It owns vineyards in the Bardolino, Valpolicella, Soave and Valdadige Classico areas, each served by its own winemaking cellar. Its office occupies a historic building in Bardolino that has belonged to the Guerrieri family since 1450.
