Soave
Province of Verona
Established: 1890
Owners: Pieropan family
Winemakers: Leonildo, Andrea & Dario Pieropan
Production: 400,000 bottles
Hectares of vines: 45
Viticulture: Organic
Pieropan has shown the world just how great Garganega can be. Third generation Leonildo (Nino) recognised the importance of terroir early on, acquiring various hillside crus and expanding the prestigious Calvarino and La Rocca vineyards. Today, Nino is joined by sons Andrea and Dario, maintaining the family’s profound commitment to the terroir and tradition of Soave and, more recently, Valpolicella.
The single vineyard wines Calvarino and La Rocca are polar opposites, yet they share a remarkable capacity to age gracefully. Calvarino, with 30% Trebbiano, is oak-free with pure fruit that is tight and minerally. La Rocca, from the vineyard that overlooks the town itself, is late harvested and aged in tonneaux. It displays an explosion of ripe tropical fruit with an intense, layered palate that is velvety and persistent. Recioto di Soave, invented by Leonildo’s father, is made with the best grapes from the ‘recie’ – ears of the bunch – and dried on racks for five months. The wine is an exquisite balance between delicate sweetness and refreshing acidity.
The new red wines, from the hilly Val d’Illasi in the Valpolicella zone, are a true expression of the Pieropan style, favouring complexity and elegance. The vineyard, on Monte Garzon with sweeping views of the valley, was planted in 2000 to Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Croatina at 300-500 metres on soil rich in limestone and clay. Valpolicella Ruberpan displays perfumed cherry and blackberry fruit and is vivacious with silky tannins. In late 2012 we will have their second vintage of Amarone when the 2008 is released.
Wines
Soave DOC
Soave Classico DOC ‘Calvarino’
Soave Classico DOC ‘La Rocca’
Valpolicella Superiore DOC ‘Ruberpan’
Recioto di Soave DOCG ‘Le Colombare’ 500ml