In a quiet corner of Val di Mezzane, sunny and windy valley, we find a tiny jewel of Valpolicella. 5 hectares that aim for becoming an expression of a different concept of winery: young yet authentic, innovative yet always in straight contact with nature, in one of the most traditional and severe wine growing areas on the Italian scenery. Thanks to the experience in the vineyard and in the cellar, to a fresh and enthusiastic management, a new and important reality in the Italian wine world developed.

This highly prestigious wine is produced exclusively from hillside vineyards, whose finest grapes are left to raisin on mats after being harvested. The wine undergoes a long ageing process before being served, first in oak barrels and then in bottles in underground cellars.

Since 1956 this family business has been run by the same family. Seven family members are currently working in this special wine domain. They make a wide range of wines of which the Aldegheri Amarone della Valpolicella Classico ‘Santambroggio’ DOCG 2015 is one of the absolute toppers. With respect for old traditions, excellent balanced wines are produced in a modern way. Northwest of the beautiful city of Verona in the hills above Sant’Ambroggio in the heart of the Valpolicella Classico are the vineyards. The vineyards are on average 20 years old (running up to 35 years) and the vines are on a thin calcareous soil. This Italian powerful red wine is produced according to the traditional method. After the alcoholic fermentation, the young wine matures for about 24 months in large Slovenian oak barrels, followed by a barrel aging of 12 months on French oak barriques with a final bottle aging of 8 months.

Deep ruby red in color, La Grola has a wide and embracing bouquet with scents of wild berries, juniper, tobacco and coffee essence. Full-bodied and intense while maintaining its elegance, the wineis made from Corvina Veronese and Oseleta grapes grown on terraces. The high plant density and the resulting low yields add to the wine’s unique concentration.

92 Points – James Suckling

Brunello di Montalcino is the ambassador of top quality Italian wines around the world, the first wine to receive the DOCG appellation. Brunello is a brilliant ruby red colour, tending towards garnet red with age. Its bouquet is intense, pure, pleasant and refined, reminiscent of sweet violet, tobacco, chocolate and pleasant hints of wild berries and vanilla. Its flavour fully confirms the above in a well-balanced, full-bodied wine with good tannins and a solid structure.

95 Points – James Suckling