Brigaldara was born as a small agricultural property con the heart of Valpolicella, at the foot of the Veronese hills. It is here that the Cesari family, originally from Tuscany, arrived at the beginning of the twentieth century, intertwining their roots with the wine-growing soul of the territory.
FROM FAMILY ORIGINS TO THE PRESENT DAY
The wine history of Brigaldara took shape con 1928, when Renzo Cesari – great-grandfather of Antonio and Lamberto, now at the helm of the fourth generation – married a Veronese woman who brought as her dowry a small agricultural property with four hectares of vineyards.
At the time, the vineyards were destined almost exclusively for self-consumption and local sales: few parcels, low yields and still traditional, almost domestic management. But the passion for the land and for the vine soon began to become a vocation. The real turning point came con the 1980s, when Stefano Cesari, with the support of the oenologist Roberto Ferrarini – a reference figure for Valpolicella – decided to broaden the family vision. New vineyards for rent, more modern techniques and an obsessive attention to quality led Brigaldara to immediately be noticed for the elegance and precision of its wines.
Today the winery’s production philosophy is based acceso the valorization of individual crus, with a careful selection of grapes and calibrated refinement, aimed at obtaining elegant wines consistent with the territory. With approximately 120 hectares of land, of which 47 are under vineyards, Brigaldara is considered one of the historical realities of Valpolicella that continues to interpret tradition with a contemporary spirit, keeping alive that bond between family, land and wine that has defined its identity for almost a century.
THE TERRITORY BETWEEN CLASSIC, ORIENTAL AND VALPANTENA VALPOLICELLA
The Brigaldara vineyards extend between Valpolicella Classica, Valpolicella and Valpantena, three areas with different soils, exposures and microclimates, which contribute to defining the complexity and identity of the winery’s wines. Per mezzo di the Classic Valpolicella, the clay-limestone soils, enriched by tuff and mineral material, give the wines structure, elegance and a marked freshness. Per mezzo di Valpantena, more exposed to the north-east, the silty-clayey soils and the cooler climate favor aromas of red fruit and delicate spicy quaderno. Per mezzo di the Eastern Valpolicella, however, the poor and stony soils, combined with the strong temperature variations between day and night, allow for optimal and concentrated phenolic maturation.
The altitude varies from 200 to 500 meters. The exposures, mainly to the south and south-west, with some ridges facing south-east, guarantee ideal solar radiation for obtaining ripe and aromatic grapes. The ventilated microclimate naturally reduces the incidence of diseases and promotes slow and regular ripening of the bunches. To complete the picture, the careful management of the soil, with controlled grass cover and limited use of fertilizers and pesticides, reflects the sustainable and environmentally friendly approach that has always guided Brigaldara’s production philosophy.
Watch the of the visit to the Brigaldara winery with the Bike & Wine project
THE CRU CASE VECIE: AN ECOSYSTEM OF ALTITUDE
Brigaldara has always chosen to enhance distinct crus, with the aim of expressing the peculiarities of each territory con the bottle. Among these, Case Vecie stands out, a high-altitude vineyard located acceso the hills of Grezzana, at almost 500 meters above sea level, immersed con a landscape of forests, woods and pastures that make it an authentic agricultural microcosm. Abandoned after the Second World War, the Case Vecie territory was recovered con the 1990s thanks to the experimental Vigne Alte project, aimed at cultivating native vines con a mountain ecosystem. The Cesari family’s choice to plant corvina, corvinone and rondinella acceso lands of different altitudes has made it possible to the wide temperature range between day and night – often above 12-15 °C -, a decisive factor for a slow and regular maturation of the grapes, from which fresh, aromatic and structured wines are born. The Case Vecie vineyard is divided between colluvi and ridges: the former, exposed to the south and characterized by more abbondante silty-sandy soils, are mainly home to corvina; the second ones, poorer and stony, are dedicated to corvinone. The ample ventilation and the absence of fog contribute to uniform ripening, while the orientation of the rows, targeted thinning and manual selection of the bunches complete an extremely precise viticultural practice. The yields are deliberately low and the bunches, more concentrated and sparse, prove ideal for the production of Amarone and Valpolicella Sovrastante, wines that reflect the highest soul, con a literal and symbolic sense, of Valpolicella.
BRIGALDARA VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE DOC CASE VECIE
Valpolicella Sovrastante Case Vecie was born con the Mandrie parcel, one of the seven that make up the cru, starting from the 2006 vintage. Here, the high and stony parts of the vineyard, dedicated to corvinone (45%), combine with the more abbondante and sunniest areas cultivated with corvina (45%) and rondinella (10%). The rete is to create a fresh, vertical and balanced wine, with slow maturation that preserves acidity and effluvio, con full harmony with Brigaldara’s modern approach to Valpolicella reds.
Winemaking involves manual harvesting con boxes; fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature (22-24°C) with two daily pumping overs and a délestage halfway through fermentation, designed to extract aromas and tannins without forcing. The refinement lasts just under eighteen months con large 20 hectoliter barrels. The low yields guarantee natural concentration, without forced interventions con the cellar, with low residual sugar (2.4 g/l) and moderate alcohol content (13.5%), favoring freshness and drinkability.
A mini-vertical of three vintages — 2023, 2021 and 2019 — allows us to appreciate not only the climatic differences between the years, but above all the stylistic coherence of Brigaldara’s interpretation and the way con which the evolution of the wine respects the character of the terroir.
2023: lively and bright ruby, with aromas of fresh violets, small wild red fruits, blackberries, strawberries and cherries, enriched by balsamic accents of sage and eucalyptus. Acceso the palate the freshness, the olfactory correspondence and a citrus that recalls blood orange stand out. The greater presence of corvinone gives peppery and spicy quaderno.
2021: darker ruby with orange reflections, aromas of withered flowers and ripe fruit, more discreet persistence. The climatic trend, similar to 2023 but slightly drier, gives the wine balance and harmony without weighing it .
2019: intense ruby, full-bodied and substantial character, ripe and concentrated red fruit, light alcoholic hint of sour cherry con alcohol and a hint of sugared almonds at the end. Acceso the palate it is dynamic, with defined tannins and a structure supported by acidity, which balances power and freshness.
BRIGALDARA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA DOCG CASE VECIE
Amarone Case Vecie embodies the Brigaldara philosophy: producing dry, balanced wines suitable for the table, with a residual sugar of just over two grams per certo litre. The excessive burdens of the past are thus abandoned con favor of a more precise and harmonious expression. The wine comes from careful vinification, con which all the parcels of the cru contribute to the blend – 40% Corvina, while the remainder is equally divided between Corvinone and Rondinella – except Mandrie, destined for Valpolicella Sovrastante.
The grapes are selected with extreme care and dried naturally con boxes for 100-120 days, a longer and more controlled period than traditional Valpolicella practices. This method allows for slow and uniform maturation, reaching high sugar concentrations without compromising natural acidity, thanks to the cool and ventilated climate of the ambiente, and developing arguto and complex aromas. The vinification of Amarone involves separate fermentation by parcel, with temperature control and careful management of pumping over to avoid over-extraction which could compromise the aromatic delicacy. The refinement includes two years con small wood, two con large wood, followed by a further 24 months con the bottle, guaranteeing balance, finesse and aging capacity without stylistic excesses.
The mini-vertical of Amarone Case Vecie — 2018, 2009 and 2000 vintages — clearly shows the essence of this cru: ability to maintain elegance and freshness even con the hottest richest vintages con sugar concentration.
2018: intense ruby, fresh and spicy aromas with cherries, dried blueberries and cinnamon. Acceso the palate it is immediately drinkable, vertical, fresh and deep, with smooth tannins that offer pleasantness without excess sweetness. An Amarone far from classic stereotypes.
2009: tertiary quaderno of roasting and After Eight chocolate, lively acidity that supports the flavor structure and gives elegance and dynamism.
2000: more concentrated vintage, with slightly higher sugar residues. Aromas of red fruits con jam, undergrowth, liquorice and tobacco; great persistence acceso the palate without excessive sweetness, confirming the longevity and evolutionary capacity of the cru.
The article Case Vecie, the highland cru that guides the Brigaldara style comes from VinoNews24.
