Degani Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore 2023

Alcohol: 14%

Grape(s): 40% Corvina, 30% Rondinella, 25% Corvinone, 5% Altre

Localization: Veneto, Italy

Tasting Notes: A bright and juicy effort offering notes of sweet cherry, clove and rosehip. It's soft and fleshy, with a mix of brisk acids and minerals that frame the expression nicely. A citrus and herbal twang lingers through the mouthwatering finale.

Notes: The grapes are softly crushed while removing the stalks. The fermentation temperature ranges from 22° to 28°C. The must is left for 12 days to macerate with a manual press at regular intervals (20 minutes, 3 times daily). The wine is stored in stainless steel tanks until February, when it is poured over the lees of the Amarone grapes for 15 days at 15°C — a technique called Ripasso. After this, the wine is transferred to barrels for 24 months.

Food Pairing: Recommended with all kinds of meat (roasted, braised and grilled) as well as seasoned and fermented cheese.

The Domain: The Fratelli Degani winery dates back to 1900, when wines were initially made just for personal use. In 1980, Angelo Degani and his nephew Aldo took over the business, and by 1996 their wines were featured on many of the world's most prestigious wine lists. From harvesting to winemaking and bottling, everything at Degani is done in accordance with traditional methods and a simple ideology. The wines produced here perfectly reflect the world-class terroir and winemaking skills, from their Valpolicella, Superiore and Ripasso right through to their Amarone and Recioto. The wines of Fratelli Degani truly show the magic of the Valpolicella region.