Bertani is a historic winery in both the Veneto region and Italy as a whole. Founded in 1857 by brothers Giovan Battista and Gaetano Bersani, they began working their own grapes. They have always been regarded as innovators, both in the vineyards and in the cellars. By experimenting with new techniques, they succeeded in creating incredibly high-quality wines that were surprising and unique at the time.
The grapes for this Amarone come from the vineyards of Tenuta Novare in Arbizzano di Negrar, in the heart of the Valpolicella Classica region. Their 220-hectare vineyards are covered in calcareous marl soils and are dedicated exclusively to the production of Amarone.
After careful hand-harvesting and bunch selection, the grapes are taken to the drying rooms and laid out in a single layer on bamboo racks. They remain there for approximately 120 days, losing up to 60 percent of their water content. In mid-January, the grapes are destemmed and crushed. This is followed by maceration at 4 to 5 degrees Celsius for approximately 20 days. Slow fermentation then begins for approximately 30 days in concrete vats at a maximum temperature of 18 degrees Celsius. The wine is aged for six years in Slavonian oak barrels, with an average capacity of 60 hectoliters, followed by bottle aging for at least 12 months.
But all that waiting is ultimately rewarded. The aroma reveals a broad bouquet of cherries, plums, vanilla, dried black fruit, tobacco, and almond. Truly, you could sniff this wine for hours. The palate is worth every penny: full-bodied and incredibly complex, with refined, soft flavors of black fruit, spices, tobacco, chocolate, plums, and so on. Everything is in perfect harmony: soft tannins, an elegant bitter note, and a long finish.
