Corte Sant’Alda 2019 Valpolicella Ripasso ‘Campi Magri’ Veneto

Made from the classic blend of grapes led by Corvina and aged in the traditional cherry wood casks, the Campi Magri doesn’t lean on sweetness as heavily as other ripasso. It has a drier and more refined expression, tempered a touch by age, making this a medium-bodied complex red, a lovely pairing with grilled or braised meats. Ripasso wines are produced from an ancient method of passing fresh juice over the pomace of the previous Amarone vintage (grapes are partially dried). 

Corte Sant’Alda is one of the diamonds of eastern Valpolicella. Owner Marinella Camerani is a benchmark producer in the Valle de Mazzane region and a real force of nature in that community. She was one of few female winemakers to forge her own path outside the Classico, hell even inside the Classico. She is dedicated to bone dry wines of complex expression from the white calcareous and clay soils of the Mezzane. She is a curious winemaker at heart, favoring a mix of vessels from cherry to concrete, to shape her naturally-fermented wines. In the hills of the Valle de Mezzane, Marinella is one of those diamonds in the rough, or in this case, in a sea of boring Valpolicella.

WINEMAKER: Marinella Camerani and daughter Alda

VARIETAL: Corvina Grossa, Corvina Veronese, Rondinella and Molinara

APPELLATION: Valpolicella Superiore

REGION: Veneto

IN THE VINEYARD: 100% Organically farmed

IN THE WINERY: Spontaneous fermentation, racked onto Amarone marc and aged in cherry wood

ABV%: 14

SERVE: Open and let stand for 30min, serve in a Burgundy-shaped glass