A family estate on the glacial morainic amphitheater south of Lake Garda at Custoza. The estate specialises in crisp, food-friendly Bianco di Custoza DOC from Garganega, Trebbiano and Cortese.
Signature wines: gorgo-bianco-di-custoza, gorgo-merlot-garda
Address: Via Gorgo 17, 37067 Custoza di Valeggio sul Mincio, Verona, Italy, Veneto
The Nicolis family has farmed the Villa Girardi estate in San Pietro in Cariano since 1951. The Ambrosan single-vineyard Amarone from the oldest family vines is their prestige bottling.
Tasting: Wine visits and tastings at San Pietro in Cariano by appointment.
Signature wines: nicolis-amarone-classico, nicolis-ambrosan-amarone
Claudio Viviani farms old Corvina and Rondinella vines on the Mazzano ridge in Negrar, producing a tiny-production Amarone Campo Morar from the estate's highest plots with notable freshness and longevity.
Tasting: Visits and tastings at the Mazzano estate by appointment.
Signature wines: viviani-amarone-campo-morar, viviani-valpolicella-classico
A high-altitude Fumane estate farmed by the Scamperle family since 1986 producing Amarone Pergole Vece from century-old Corvina vines at 450 metres elevation. Monica Scamperle is one of Valpolicella's few female winemakers.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings by appointment in Fumane.
Signature wines: le-salette-amarone-pergole-vece, le-salette-valpolicella-classico
Operating from the 16th-century Villa Santa Sofia in Pedemonte, this producer has been bottling Valpolicella wines since 1811. The Begnoni family combination of history and good-value Amarone attracts steady wine tourism.
Tasting: Villa Santa Sofia open for visits and tastings; the historic loggia attributed to Palladio is part of the tour.
Signature wines: santa-sofia-amarone-classico, santa-sofia-valpolicella-classico
Valentina Cubi's certified organic estate on the Fumane hillsides produces small-production Amarone and Valpolicella with a focus on indigenous varieties and minimal intervention in both vineyard and cellar.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at the Fumane estate.
Signature wines: valentina-cubi-amarone-morar, valentina-cubi-valpolicella-classico
Montresor family estate at Peschiera del Garda specialising exclusively in Lugana DOC from the Turbiana grape. The Molceo Riserva aged on lees for over a year is among the most complex Lugana bottlings.
Tasting: Tasting visits at the Peschiera del Garda estate; Lugana DOC range.
Signature wines: ottella-lugana, ottella-molceo-lugana-riserva
