Valpolicella/Bardolino Red

Corvina

Perhaps seen as the noble grape of Valpolicella, Corvina (pictured) is a perfumed and elegant variety that performs best when blended as it suffers from some notable deficiencies, namely a lack of tannin and colour. Though this perception has been challenged with some extremely fine varietal bottlings, these do appear to be the exception. Characterised by red and black cherry with plum and spice, Corvina is well suited to appassimento where it concentrates in flavour and takes on more tar, smoke and spice. In nearby Bardolino the expressions tend to the fragrant and perfumed and dehydration is not traditional.

Corvinone

Corvinone is, as might be suspected, historically linked to the benchmark Veneto red grape, Corvina. Often inter-planted with Corvina, Corvinone was often seen as ...READ MORE

Corvina

Perhaps seen as the noble grape of Valpolicella, Corvina (pictured) is a perfumed and elegant variety that performs best when blended as it suffers from some notable deficiencies, namely a lack of tannin and colour. Though this perception has been challenged with some extremely fine varietal bottlings, these do appear to be the exception. Characterised by red and black cherry with plum and spice, Corvina is well suited to appassimento where it concentrates in flavour and takes on more tar, smoke and spice. In nearby Bardolino the expressions tend to the fragrant and perfumed and dehydration is not traditional.

Corvinone

Corvinone is, as might be suspected, historically linked to the benchmark Veneto red grape, Corvina. Often inter-planted with Corvina, Corvinone was often seen as a clonal mutation of Corvina or even just a massal variance. Though sharing some characteristics it has since been proven that the varieties are distinct and that Corvinone is actually the parent variety of Rondinella. Corvinone produces wines of good concentration, deep colour and profound tannins, the last two of these attributes compensating for Corvina’s lack thereof.

Molinara

Molinara is somewhat of a wine ‘extender’ in Valpolicella and is largely being phased out by quality conscious producers. Though it is not without subtle fragrance and bright acidity, when it forms too large a part of the blend it is responsible for the lesser wines of the region.

Rondinella

Though Rondinella is something of a functional, rather than distinguished, grape, it adds colour and body to the more characterful but sometimes slight, Corvina. It also takes to drying well, the berries, though often starting with modest sugar levels, concentrate particularly well and the thick skins resist rot.

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