Wine information:
First established in 1857, today Bertani is still owned by the same family and vaunts more than a century and a half of unbroken tradition in the wines of Valpolicella. Bertani produces Recioto with the grapes from the hills of Valpantena, a sub-zone to the North of the city of Verona, in the communes of Quinto, Grezzana, and Santa Maria in Stelle. The soils range from calcareous marls in the east to iron-rich calcareous clays in the west. The harvest takes place at the end of September and is 50% Corvina and 50% Rondinella. Bertani Recioto is made from the smallest bunches with the best exposure to the sun, which are dried for about three months on the traditional “aréle” cane mats. After 150 days, the semi-dried grapes are destalked, crushed, and fermentation begins. At first the temperature is kept very low (4C-5C); after a few days it is allowed to climb to 18C. Once the alcohol level has reached 13% the must is cooled and fermentation is stopped. The typical cherry bouquet is enhanced by the fact that the wine is matured for 12 months in cherry-wood casks until it becomes a concentrate of wild marasca and visciola cherrries. After bottling, the wine is kept in the winery for a further three months before release. It has a very deep violet-red colour. On the nose there classical Recioto aromas of plum, cherry and raspberries, accompanied by spices, vanilla, hay and cocoa. It is full, velvety and intense on the palate, but not syrupy. There are flavours of raspberry, chocolate, liquorice and the finish is clean, lengthy and quite unique with soft, sweet tannins. It goes well with oven-baked pastry and fruit tarts, but can also be an intriguing accompaniment to young cheeses and sweet pickles. Also lovely for any occasion where port would be used.