Inside Gracie’s Wine World – Tenuta Santa Maria

About the Bertani Family:
The Bertani family’s winemaking history can be traced back to the 1500s in the Valpolicella region of Italy. The original brothers Bertani (Gaetano & Giovan) were the first in the region to bottle wines such as Valpolicella Ripasso, Recioto (the sweet dessert wine of the region), and Soave. The Brothers Bertani were among the first to bring wines from the region to Great Britian and the United States. With the turn of the century, the Bertani family created another iconic wine, “Recioto Secco” (today known as Amarone). The winery is now run by Gaetano(Great Grandson of the founder Gaetano) and his sons Guegelmio and Giovanni(Who will be joining us on Saturday).

About the Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore:
This elegant and complex valpolicella continues the family tradition of the Ripasso method, used in the 1850s. The style is a consistent expression of the indigenous Corvina, Rondinella and Corvinone grapes and terroir of the area. The Ripasso method is delicately achieved conducting a secondary extended maceration and fermentation over the Amarone grape skins, giving the wine higher complexity, bolder and softer body, and intense color.

With notes reminiscent of the Amarone, the wine is a vivid ruby red color. At the nose, intense hints of cherry, blueberry, licorice and lingering accents of cinnamon and pepper. At the palate, soft and warm structured velvet tannins and very balanced acidity. Long finish with fruity sensations.