About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
The grapes come from south-east-facing hillside vineyards at Sant’Ambrogio di Valpolicella, at 300–350 m. The soils are chalky and calcareous, with abundant stones. The Guyot-trained vines average 20 years of age, carry 6–8 buds per plant and yield 80 quintals per hectare.
Grapes
80% Corvina, 10% Rondinella, 10% Oseleta.
Vinification
Harvest and selection are carried out by hand from late September into early October. The loosest, healthiest bunches are placed in a fruttaio until February, losing approximately half their original weight. The dried grapes are crushed and destemmed, then undergo a slow fermentation on the skins lasting about 20 days.
Ageing
The wine matures for 24 months in tonneaux and a further 12 months in bottle.
Technical data
The 2020 release has 14% alcohol and is bottled in a 500 ml format.
Tasting profile
The main presentation describes an intense garnet-red colour. The bouquet is elegant and spicy, with black cherry, cherries in spirit and plum. A fuller profile adds dried figs, cocoa and sweet spices. The palate is sweet without becoming cloying, with freshness, balanced body and soft, velvety tannins. Its long, caressing finish is honeyed and lightly citrus-toned.
Serving and pairing
Serve at 12–14°C. Pair with dark chocolate, dried-fruit tarts, almond or hazelnut pastries, pandoro, panettone and dry biscuits. Mature Gorgonzola, Stilton and other blue cheeses also complement the wine.
Label / history
Recioto is Valpolicella’s historic sweet wine, once regarded as a restorative. Its sweetness is balanced by freshness in the contemporary interpretation. The name derives from the Veronese dialect word recia, meaning “ear,” and refers to the small lateral bunches surrounding the main cluster, traditionally considered its finest part.
