Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Rive, which suggests accents of licorice, aniseed and fennel. Don't miss DOC Monte Car-
bonare Soave Classico, with its mineral, ocean-breeze finish.
Valpolicella
The 'valley of many cellars', from which Valpolicella gets its name, has been in the busi-
ness of wine production since the ancient Greeks introduced their
passito
technique (the
use of partially dried grapes) to create the blockbuster flavours we still enjoy in the re-
gion's Amarone and Recioto wines.
Situated in the foothills of Monti Lessini, the valleys benefit from a happy microclimate
created by the enormous body of Lake Garda to the west and cooling breezes from the
Alps to the north. No wonder Veronese nobility got busy building showy weekend retreats
here. Many of them, like the extraordinary
Villa della Torre
(
www.villadellatorre.it
;
Fumane)
, still
house noble wineries, while others like
Villa Spinosa
( 045 750 00 93;
www.villaspinosa.it
; Via Colle
Masua 12, Negrar; apt per 2/4/6 people €110/235/300; )
provide very comfortable accommodation.
Seven
comuni
compose the DOC quality-controlled area: Pescantina, San Pietro in
Cariano, Negrar, Marano di Valpolicella, Fumane, Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella and
Sant' Anna d'Alfaedo.
ALLEGRINI
( 045 683 20 11;
www.allegerini.it
;
Via Giare 9/11, Fumane; tours €12-60; by appointment; )
This is
one of the leading wineries of the Valpolicella region - the Allegrini family have been
tending vines in Fumane, Sant'Ambrogio and San Pietro since the 16th century. Pride of
place goes to the
cru
wines produced from Corvinia and Rondinella grapes grown on the
La Grola hillside (La Poja, La Grola and Palazzo della Torre). Wine tastings in the 16th-
century Villa della Torre are a fabulous experience.
WINERY
FRATELLI VOGADORI
cing just 10,000 bottles of Valpolicella, Ripasso, Amarone and Recioto wines, the
eponymous brothers
(fratelli)
of Vogadori are meticulous when it comes to organic, envir-
onmentally friendly production techniques. They've also started to reintroduce native,
heirloom varieties such as Oseleta and Negrara. The result: the wonderfully full-bodied
Amarone Riserva Forlago (2004) and the velvety, smooth 2007 Recioto della Valpolicella,
which pairs wickedly with dark chocolate cake. Prices range from €15 to €30 per bottle.
WINERY
PIEVE DI SAN GIORGIO
CHURCH
