Country: Italy  Region: Veneto  Vintage: 2015 Category: Red Wine  Color: Red Producer: Alpha Zeta "Alpha Zeta was started in 1999 when Liberty Wines set out to produce a range of modern, fruit driven wines from the hills outside Verona. Working with leading New Zealand winemaker Matt Thomson, our aim was to work with growers (rather than buy bulk wine, which is standard among most wines from Verona at this price) to obtain ripe grapes (by reducing yields and picking later) and then, using Matt's expertise, preserve these flavours in the finished wines. This has resulted in wines that offer great value, quality, balance and typicity.The 2015 whites are excellent, none more so than the single vineyard 'Terrapieno' Pinot Grigio, an excellent example of its style. The unoaked Soave is dry, scented and delicious while the Chardonnay is melony and impressive. It is often overlooked, but it offers outstanding value. The Pinot Grigio, made solely from grapes grown on hillside vineyards in the Alpone valley, is balanced and quaffable, with a lovely pear and bread crust character on the nose and palate. The reds are equally impressive. The 2015 Valpolicella has bright, black cherry perfumes and velvety tannins, while the 2014 Ripasso is silky and scented. The Amarone 2012 is the one of the best value Amarone on the market." Product Features: Sustainable;Vegan;Vegetarian Product Allergens: Sulphites Label Winemaker: Luca Degani Vineyards: The vineyards are situated in the hills outside Verona in the Valpantena Valley. Cool currents blow down the valley from the foothills of the Dolomites, which helps to moderate the climate, enabling the grapes to ripen slowly. This helps the grapes to retain their aromatic compounds and acidity. The soil is poor and chalky so the vines are put under stress helping to produce superior quality fruit. Vinification: The grapes were hand harvested, de-stemmed, crushed and pumped to temperature controlled stainless steel fermenters. The must was left in contact with the skins for seven days, then fermentation took place at up to 30°C. The wine was then moved to stainless steel tanks, where malolactic fermentation took place and the wine was held until bottling. Tasting Notes: A lively, youthful ruby wine with fresh cherry aromas that develop into a rich cherry pie character in the mouth. Body comes from soft, supple tannins that match the concentrated fruit through to the characterful finish. Food Suggestion: A lovely match with sausages or tomato-based pasta dishes. Closure: Stelvin  Acidity [g/l]: 5.7  ABV:12.5%