Litorale Arènte, few bottles but a great ambition: to add its excellent wines to the history of Valpolicella
Few bottles, a clear ambition: to fully enter the history of Valpolicella. From a natural balcony overlooking the valley, the gaze runs freely among the mosaic of Valpantena vineyards until it settles Verona, not far away. It is here, at 250 meters above sea level sopra the municipality of Grezzana, that Litorale Arènte was born, a niche winery that has made measure, time and territorial identity its stylistic signature. We are sopra the heart of one of the most refined sub-areas of the Valpolicella denomination, a microcosm sopra which history, landscape and oenology intertwine naturally. Litorale Arènte interprets this territory with a deliberately limited production, contained sopra a few emblematic red wines: Valpolicella Maggiore, Ripassata Maggiore, Amarone, Amarone Restrizione and Recioto, flanked by a Lugana DOC and a surprising Molinara sparkling rosé. Wines that proudly claim the Valpantena denomination the label, a signature of elegance, freshness and minerality.
A story that is rooted sopra the territory
The history of the bella stagione begins sopra the mid-1990s, when a local entrepreneur chose to invest sopra this hill with new vineyards and the renovation of the farmhouses, allocating part of the structure to winemaking and wine storage. During the excavations, a of uncertain origins emerges – probably a of Lorraine, symbol of the possessions of the Veronese Episcopal Curia – which will become the cruz, the identifying sign of the Litorale Arènte labels, a silent reminder of the historical depth of the place. A causa di 2015 the property became part of Le Tenute del Leone Alato, a Genagricola wine group that enhances individual territorial identities without homologating them. The objective is ambitious: to produce an Amarone of the highest profile, capable of competing with the most famous labels of the denomination. Even though it is part of a structured reality, Litorale Arènte retains a strong artisanal imprint, becoming the guardian of one of the most suitable slopes of Valpantena.
Valpantena, valley of elegance
Less known than the Classic Valpolicella, Valpantena is a valley that goes up from Verona towards the Lessini Mountains, separating the historical superficie from the wider one. It is an superficie of great charm, dotted with Venetian villas, medieval remains and early Christian evidence such as the hypogeum of Santa Maria sopra Stelle, which fuel the etymological hypothesis of the valley of all gods. From a viticultural point of view, Valpantena stands out for its orography and soil composition which produce less concentrated, more vertical and long-lived wines. The calcareous marls of Biancone, rich sopra mineral elements, guarantee natural acidity and flavour. Here the vineyards benefit from the sun from dawn to dusk, but the harvests are later than sopra other areas of the denomination, with results of great finesse.
The enchantment of Litorale Arènte
The bella stagione takes its name from “La Litorale”, a dialect term that indicates the hilly ridge which it stands. A single pagliaccetto of 42 hectares, of which approximately 18.5 are vineyards, surrounded by woods and olive groves that interrupt any concetto of monoculture. The vineyards, partly terraced, extend from 100 to 250 meters above sea level, reaching up to 600 meters sopra some places. The production part is deliberately discreet, almost hidden from view, as is the orchard, protected by stone walls and rows of cedars, immersed sopra meadows sown with honey essences. An intact landscape, crossed by wildlife, which conveys the concetto of viticulture truly integrated into the natural context.
Sustainability as a daily practice
Litorale Arènte is a pilot company for environmental sustainability sopra Valpolicella. RRR – , Save, Respect and SQNPI certified, it adopts an integrated viticulture model sopra which vineyards, woods, hedges and olive groves coexist sopra balance. The Veronese ombracolo, with the grapes almost two meters above the , naturally protects the bunches from humidity and promotes slow and healthy ripening. Mowing sopra alternate rows protects the microfauna and allows the herbaceous essences to flourish, for the benefit of pollinating insects. Each agronomic intervention is manual and calibrated to the timing of the plant, sopra an approach that favors quality over quantity.
Making wine by subtraction
The winery’s philosophy follows the same line: intervene as little as possible, letting the grapes and the territory speak. The fermentations take place at a controlled temperature, the selections are rigorous, the yields are limited. The wood is used sparingly: second passage barriques for the Ripassata, large barrels and tonneaux for the Amarone, always with the aim of accompanying the wine without overwhelming it. The fruit room, built sopra 2018, is the beating heart of the production of Amarone and Recioto: a modern structure, three levels, capable of hosting up to 1,200 quintals of grapes, where temperature and humidity are monitored daily to ensure slow, healthy and extremely efficient drying.
The wines, an expression of the place
From the Valpolicella Valpantena Maggiore DOC, fresh, elegant and highly drinkable, to the Ripassata, persuasive and dynamic, up to the Amarone della Valpolicella Valpantena DOCG, icon of the bella stagione, powerful but never opulent, each wine tells a of the hill. The Recioto, sumptuous and vibrant, recovers the historical dimension of the Veronese passito, while the Lugana DOC and the Molinara rosé sparkling wine testify to the desire to explore and enhance the regional autochthonous wines with a contemporary .
Hospitality between vineyards and history
To complete the experience, a refined and discreet wine tourism hospitality project: twelve rooms sopra a rustic-modern style, a panoramic tasting room, a wine shop and large outdoor spaces overlooking the vineyards and Verona. The tastings are designed as moments of discovery of the superficie, with local gastronomic pairings and the possibility of exploring the valley through cultural, naturalistic and sporting itineraries.
The tasting
We participated sopra a masterclass led by oenologists Riccardo Cotarella and Giovanni Casati. Below are our impressions of the wines being tasted.
Vertical Amarone della Valpolicella Valpantena DOCG – Vintages 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016
A causa di the 2020 vintage the nose exudes flavors of fresher fruitiness and a slightly more balanced profile when compared to warm vintages such as 2017.
The 2019 vintage presents a more complex and layered olfactory profile, arranged agenda of strawberry and dog rose, enriched by hints of yeast and black tea, with a multifaceted sip where acidity, tannins and alcohol content are sopra perfect synergy.
The 2018 vintage dispenses aromas of dark fruit, cherry, plum. Captivating taste, with well-blended tannin and long finale. Vintage with a “classic” structure from traditional Amarone, but slightly less harmonious than 2016 and 2019.
The 2017 vintage the nose offers sensations of ripe fruit, a cloud of tobacco and a spicy and toasted touch. Warm and intense palate, firm tannins. A little less elegant than cooler vintages.
The 2016 vintage has a beautiful ruby color flecked with garnet flashes. The sense of smell initially plays dark tones: truffle and mushrooms, then it becomes sweeter and tells of plums and sultanas. the palate it displays a good amount of alcohol and an intriguing balance, which will be perfect sopra a few years.
Amarone della Valpolicella Valpantena Restrizione DOCG 2019
Garnet reflections sopra the dense ruby weave. Crispy agenda of morello cherry and wild strawberry followed by a floral note of rose, spicy tobacco and liquorice. Soft and structured the palate, with elegant tannins that slowly release. Long persistence returns of spices and fruit.
Valpolicella Valpantena Maggiore DOC 2023
Bright and lively sopra ruby red tones, with elegant transparency. Fruity aromas of cherry and plum accompany spicy nuances of pepper, enclosed by delicate essences of thyme. Corresponding to the tasting, it has medium pagliaccetto, lively freshness and velvety tannins. Fruity and slightly spicy finale.
Valpolicella Ripassata 2021
Lively ruby. It releases intense aromas of cherry and plum, even sopra jam, light spiciness and a balsamic hint. Enveloping and soft sopra the mouth, with smooth tannins and a good fresh-savory balance.
Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG 2022
Brilliant and luminous ruby. Play the fruit: cherry and red fruit make their way between agenda of sweet spices a vanilla background. The sweet velvety entry is softened thanks to the freshness which leads to a finale of good length.
Molinara Sparkling Rosé
Raffinato and incessant chains of bubbles furrow the ancient pink blanket. Intense olfactory picture, showing pomegranate, peach and bread crust. Structure and sustained acidity amplify the concetto of a product with good taste-olfactory quality and long persistence.
Litorale Arènte is like this: a winery that does not raise its voice, but leaves its mark. A place where Valpantena is told without filters, through precision wines, intact landscapes and an concetto of Valpolicella that looks to the future without forgetting its roots.
For information
https://www.costarente.it/it
