Country: Italy  Region: Veneto  Vintage: 2016 Grape: 60% Corvina/ Corvinone15% Croatina15% Rondinella10% Other Native Red Varietals Category: White Wine  Color: White Producer: Pieropan VINTAGE Mild temperatures and moderate rains accompanied the winterseason. The beginning of the vines’ growth cycle saw abundantrain, but was thankfully followed by a hot and dry period. Thisallowed for perfect health and organoleptic qualities in thegrapes, making this 2015 vintage one of the best, if not the best, ofthe last 20 years.PRODUCERPieropan's estate covers 58 hectares of vineyard which aresituated on the stony hills of Soave Classico. The Pieropan familyhas been producing wines in Soave since the 1890s. Indeed, theywere the first producer to bottle a wine with the name Soave onthe label in the early 1930s. Nino Pieropan took over from his fatherin 1970 and was the first producer in Soave to make a single vineyard wine, 'Calvarino', in 1971. Nino's two sons, Andrea andDario, took over the running of the estate in 2017 when Nino fell illand before he passed away in April 2018. From the 2015 vintageonwards, all Pieropan wines are organically certified.VINEYARDSIn 1999, The Pieropan family bought uncultivated land on the hill ofGarzon, which is 400 metres above sea level in Cellore Illasi. TheIllasi valley is to the west of Soave and has long been known forthe quality of its Valpolicella. Pieropan planted vines here in 2000.The vineyard is south-facing with good exposure that ensuresexcellent ripening of the Valpolicella varieties (Corvina,Corvinone, Rondinella and Croatina). The limestone and clay soiland the windy and dry micro-climate are all ideal conditions forthe production of rich yet elegant wines. The vines are trainedusing the Guyot system, with 5,800 vines per hectare. The vineyardis certified organic.VINIFICATIONThe grapes were hand-picked and dried naturally, then destemmed and pressed using a nitrogen press. The must wasfermented at 23-24ºC for approximately 30 days during which timepumping over and punching down the cap took place every day.The wine was aged in 500 litre barrels for 36 months followed by ayear in bottle before release.TASTING NOTESBrilliant and intense ruby red in colour, this is a wine with a headyperfume of black cherries and red summer fruits with notes ofpepper and sweet spice. On the palate it is complex androunded, with a powerful structure supporting the fruit and a lovelyfreshness on the finish. A wine with plenty of character with thepotential to age well.