Maison Apéro
Atlas Associates Media Technology
English
Menu

Maison Media

Region

Valpolicella

Italy: map with a pin on ValpolicellaValpolicella and its surroundings: map with a pin
Valpolicella · ItalyMap: Maison Apéro, based on Natural Earth (public domain)

Bertani Valpolicella 2024 is a starting point for separating the Valpolicella zone from the different wines made within it.

The background that matters

Valpolicella DOC covers a band of foothills in the province of Verona, from Lake Garda almost to the Vicenza border, sheltered to the north by the Lessini Mountains. Vineyards can reach 500 metres, on soils formed from calcareous-dolomitic rock, basalt, and moraine and river deposits; this variety of soils changes the water supply to the vine as it grows and ripens its grapes. Appassimento, drying the grapes for several months in a loft, is mandatory for Amarone and Recioto.

Read it alongside this wine

On this site, Bertani Valpolicella 2024 is listed with Corvina Veronese and Rondinella. Its appellation is Valpolicella, not Amarone or Recioto, so the drying rule that defines those two wines does not define this one. The zone covers many hillsides and soils, so it does not show which vineyards supplied this bottle.

Try it with the review

Read what the review says about acidity, tannin and fruit, then compare it with the review of an Amarone della Valpolicella. Which differences might relate to appassimento, and which could just as well come from producer, vintage or vineyard?

These are learning prompts, not guaranteed tasting results. Separate the published facts from your own observations.

Bertani Valpolicella 2024

Sources

Soil and climate diagrams

Valpolicella: from the Adige plain to the Lessini Mountains: Valpolicella, Basalt outcrops, Adige plain, Lessini Mountains, Marly limestones, Calcareous-dolomitic rocks, Continental to sub-continental climate, tempered by Lake Garda

Schematic block diagram, not to scale: the top shows the relief and the front face a cross-section, coloured by soil and rock type.

  • Valpolicella covers a band of foothills in the province of Verona, from Lake Garda almost to the border with the province of Vicenza, with the Lessini Mountains to the north; its soils derive from calcareous-dolomitic formations, basalts, and moraine and river deposits.
  • The Adige plain has deep alluvial soils with a coarse texture and abundant stones; the hills have soils formed from white and pinkish marly limestones, the Biancone and Scaglia Rossa, with basalt outcrops formed after submarine eruptions.
  • Lake Garda tempers both winter minimum and summer maximum temperatures; further from the lake, the cold winds from the Lessini Mountains act more strongly. The valleys open like a fan from the Verona area towards the north.

Sources

Valpolicella: lake, mountains and hillside air: Lake Garda to the west, Lessini Mountains to the north, Hillside terraces and airflow → Vineyards

Between Lake Garda and the Lessini Mountains, the Valpolicella valleys enjoy a mild, ventilated climate that also serves the drying of grapes.

  • Lake Garda to the west — The lake moderates temperatures and lends the western valleys a milder, almost Mediterranean character.
  • Lessini Mountains to the north — The mountains shield the valleys from cold northern winds.
  • Hillside terraces and airflow — Vineyards on hillsides and dry-stone terraces (marogne) are well drained and ventilated; the same dry, moving air supports the appassimento drying of grapes.

Sources

Wines to explore