La Collina dei Ciliegi Amarone della Valpolicella 2020

The estate vineyards are the highest in the entire Valpantena and at this elevation the vines are cooled by air currents in summer. Extreme diurnal temperature fluctuations take place and as a result the grape ripening is delayed by up to a month compared to the valley floor. This long, slow ripening process encourages the development of complex aromas. The Valpantena is a valley of pre-Alpine alluvial origin, featuring calcareous-clayey soils which impart distinctive minerality. A holistic approach to vineyard management is adopted, prioritising organic practices and manual cultivation. The vineyards are surrounded by forests and meadows, creating a rich biodiversity which is crucial for regenerative agricultural methods, which focusses on restoring soil health and promoting a balanced ecosystem. By encouraging natural processes, La Collina dei Ciliegi supports a sustainable and environmentally friendly wine production that respects the land and its resources.

The hand-picked and selected bunches were dried in drying lofts for 100 days, where they lost 40% in weight. The grapes were destemmed and gently crushed, followed by temperature controlled fermentation in stainless steel vats at 15-20°C. Fermentation lasted for 25 days with regular, daily pumping over. The wine spent 24 months in French oak barriques and tonneaux, with six months in bottle.