A serious Valpolicella Classico Superiore from Le Ragose in Arbizzano, a family estate established in the Classico zone in 1969. The Superiore designation requires longer ageing and higher minimum alcohol; this wine shows dried cherry, spice and a darker fruit character typical of hill-grown Corvina at concentrated levels below Amarone.
Tip: Le Ragose's Valpolicella Superiore is an excellent cellar introduction to the estate before investing in their Amarone; shows the same hillside DNA at a fraction of the price.
Coffele's Ca' Visco is a single-vineyard hillside Soave Classico grown on basalt volcanic soils above the valley floor. White peach, chamomile and mineral saline on the palate; the basalt gives an almost smoky mineral edge. One of the most thoughtful value expressions of volcanic Garganega in the Classico zone.
Tip: Ca' Visco shows remarkable evolution with three to five years of bottle age; the almond-and-mineral character deepens considerably.
The entry Valpolicella Classico from Marinella Camerani's Demeter-certified biodynamic estate in Mezzane di Sotto. Light and precise, showing fresh cherry, herbs and the estate's characteristic biodynamic vitality.
Tip: An ideal gateway wine for natural-wine drinkers discovering Valpolicella; shows how the appellation can produce light, precise reds from biodynamic hillside farming.
Entry-level Prosecco DOC from one of the historic Conegliano houses. Green apple, white peach and cream on the nose; persistent fine bubbles; clean dry finish.
Tip: Serve at 6-8 degrees C; excellent aperitivo with cicchetti or lightly salted almonds.
The entry-level Soave Classico from Pieropan, founded 1880 in the Soave Classico DOC. Garganega-dominant, volcanic hillside character: white almond, lemon zest and golden apple with a long mineral finish. Strong value for a hillside Soave Classico.
Tip: The Soave Classico DOC (not the single-vineyard Calvarino or La Rocca) is the entry wine; still benefits from one to two years of cellaring.
Inama's entry Soave is made from estate Garganega grown on the volcanic hillsides of Soave Classico. Floral and fresh on the nose with notes of chamomile, citrus and almond; precise and clean on the palate.
Tip: Pair with the regional frittura di lago (fried freshwater fish) from Lake Garda; a classic Veneto white-fish pairing.
A light, elegant Valpolicella Classico from one of the appellation's most export-focused estates. Sour cherry, dried rose petal and a hint of bitter almond on the palate; light tannins and fresh acidity.
Tip: Serve lightly chilled at 14-16 degrees C; excellent with pizza, pasta with tomato-based sauces or mild salumi.