Antolini Recioto della Valpolicella 2021

Deep coloured, intense aromas of cherry, stewed plums and hints of pepper. Concentrated flavours of cranberries, dark cherries, plums and chocolate with the sweetness perfectly balanced with great acidity. Hints of mushroom, white pepper and cinnamon on the finish.

Country: Italy  Region: Valpolicella, Veneto Grapes: Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella.
ABV:12.5% Bottle Size: 500ml Organic, Biodynamic, Vegan, Vegetarian

Additional Information: Delicious paired with desserts containing chocolate, coffee, or dried fruit. Elevates when paired with ripe cheese, including blue, and salty cured meats.

Pier Paolo Antolini and his brother Stefano took over the family vineyard in 1992. The estate is nine hectares of vineyards, between 170 m and 350 m altitude, vines are planted alongside cherry and olive trees. Traditional terracing technique of stone walls ‘Marogne’ enables the land to be farmed on the steep hills of Marano, San Pietro in Cariano and Negrar in Valpolicella, without which the soil would erode.

Traditional pergola vine training is used in the vineyard as well as Biodynamic farming techniques. In 2001 the brothers completed the construction of the cellar, with room to dry the grapes, winery and storage for ageing. The grapes are hand-harvested, whole bunches are hand-selected in mid-October and placed in wooden crates to dry out for between 110 and 150 days.

During this time they lose up to 50% of their weight, concentrating the flavours and aromas further. Between the end of January and the end of February, a percentage of the withered grapes are destemmed and pressed then left to macerate at a cold temperature for eight days, followed by a 20 days fermentation in temperature-controlled steel containers using indigenous yeasts. The remaining grapes are then added and fermented together for a further 20 days, before ageing in stainless steel for 12 months, then in bottles for three to six months before release. Note that grapes are only picked for this wine in the best vintages.