An Ancient Winemaking Technique Takes Flight

An Ancient Winemaking Technique Takes Flight A Fresh Take on a Rich Tradition Deep links between the land and what is now an established tradition underscore the Zenato family’s storied wines. Together with this position and a rich cultural heritage, the family excitedly ushers a new member to its prized stable of pedigreed wines.

Family and a Sense of Place The Zenato family’s passion and commitment to the Veneto, especially to the various terroirs of the Valpolicella hills, dates back to the 1960s when Sergio Zenato’s sage insight into the land found its beginnings. Above all else, Alanera is a tribute to Sergio’s legacy of bringing understanding, wisdom and rigorous work to viticulture in Valpolicella.

Alanera’s fruit hails from the Costalunga vineyard. The site’s landscape is remarkable as it overlooks the city of Verona, while partly hugging Lake Garda and being seemingly embraced by the impressive Monte Baldo and Lessinian mountain ranges. Alanera’s Three Swallows serve as symbol to these landscape elements as well to its trio of native grapes: Corvina, Rondinella and Corvinone.

The Wine and Its Making—What’s Old is New Again By perfecting the appassimento winemaking process for generations, the Zenato family demonstrates its talent for making an ancient process new again.

Grape-drying comes naturally here, and in typical Veronese style, the appassimento process of partially drying grapes prior to fermentation achieves the desired effect of concentrating Tasting Notes: Dried and fresh flavors and aromas. Alanera (“black wing”) takes its inspiration from the Veneto’s core red cherries, coffee, sweet tobacco, fresh acidity and soft tannins. fine wine variety—Corvina, meaning little raven and known for its dark coloration.

Food Pairing: Roasted red Alanera calls the grapes to the stage, each bringing individual character, so that the whole meats, game, ragus, and aged is greater than the sum of its parts. Corvina boasts its beguiling cherry scents while Italian cheeses. Corvinone offers deeper color and acidity, with Rondinella playing along with its partners Technical notes: to underscore the distinct cherry fruit profile. Winery: Zenato Appellation: Verona Vintage: 2012 Vineyards: Valpolicella lies within an area of rolling hills and valleys between the Adige Harvest: September /October River and Lake Garda in northeastern Italy. The vineyards of Zenato’s Costalunga estate run Varietal Blend: along the gentle slopes of a hill. The mesoclimate is ideal, with exposure to the southwest 55% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 10% Corvinone, 5% Merlot, and and southeast. Constant ventilation ensures low humidity, creating perfect conditions for 5% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to be dried in the appassimento method. Alcohol: 13.75% pH: 3.68 Acidity: 5.75 g/l Vinification: Precise environmental management ensures gentle and even drying, thus Residual Sugar: 5.70 g/l concentrating flavors and yielding an unusually complex bouquet of aromas.