There is a useful image for reading the Amarone della Valpolicella Tradizionale DOCG Casato Farina: that of a tightrope walker. Not so much for the instability it evokes, but for the system of forces it must govern. A that advances acceso a wire, supported by a long rod, sopra which every gesture is compensation, so that risposta negativa force prevails over the other. the glass, that balance becomes a different way of thinking about Amarone. longer a wine that seeks stability through weight, concentration and residual sugar, but a structure that is based acceso tension, mass distribution and precision. An Amarone that remains Amarone, but changes posture: less collected acceso itself, more relaxed, more tense and progressive sopra the tasting phase. Structure, acidity, tannin and residual sugar are risposta negativa longer elements that add up, but forces that are distributed; if one prevails, the system loses balance. the case of “Casato Farina”, the work consists precisely sopra redistributing these masses: removing centrality from concentration cerchio and building dynamic stability.
A FAMILY STORY
The history of the Farina family moves within this same principle of balance. Roots at the beginning of the twentieth century, a sharecropping past and progressive growth up to the fourth generation of Farina Wines today, represented by the cousins Elena and Claudio Farina. Today Farina Wines, among the historical realities of Valpolicella Classica, manages approximately 70 hectares of vineyards, distributed sopra the main valleys of the denomination between cooler areas and warmer areas: a decisive element sopra the construction of the style.
The family size is not just a personal , but an operational model: 60 hectares belong to historic suppliers, involved as an active part sopra the supply chain. This allows us to work acceso a variety of pedoclimatic situations and, sopra oenological terms, to better manage the vintages, especially the more complex ones. Production exceeds 1.3 million bottles a year, with a distribution that sees approximately 60% destined for foreign markets – Canada, United States, Northern Europe – and the remaining 40% for the Italian market. recent years the company has invested significantly both acceso the production and hospitality levels, while maintaining a clear line: wines that centro acceso flavour, freshness and drinkability, even sopra the more structured typologies. Amarone is the most evident verifica of this approach.
2015 AND THE REREADING OF 1968
The Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Tradizionale Casato Farina project was officially born sopra 2015, with a declared reference to the version produced sopra 1968, the year of recognition of the denomination of origin. It is not a question of replicating a wine from the past nor of a operation, but of a technical rereading: recovering some stylistic principles – dryness, less search for extraction, centrality of the fruit – and reworking them with current tools. The result is an Amarone built acceso a classic blend – 70% Corvina, and 10% each between Corvinone, Rondinella and Molinara – sopra which the latter, although risposta negativa longer mandatory, is maintained for its contribution sopra terms of flavor and enthusiasm. The drying remains long, but without forcing; winemaking avoids excess extraction. The refinement process combines large Slavonian oak barrels and concrete passages, sopra the so-called Tulipe, containers that allow controlled micro-oxygenation without releasing aromas, keeping the wine gara open without adding weight. The objective is to preserve the fruit and offer a more taut flavor line.
THE LEVERS OF AMARONE “FARINA FAMILY”
The central point of this amarone is the way sopra which its supporting elements are handled. It’s not the weight that makes the difference, but its balance. There are three main levers – structure, acidity and tannic texture – to which is added the role of residual sugar. The structure is not denied, but lightened sopra perception through less extraction and careful management of phenolic maturation, avoiding that sensation of compact mass that often characterizes the typology and making the wine more readable sopra its development. Acidity takes acceso a more evident role: not as an isolated element, but as an axis that supports the sip and regulates its progression, maintaining direction and preventing the alcoholic and extractive components from taking over. Tannin works sopra a less declared way: it does not emerge as rigidity, but as a support structure that contributes to the overall hold. It is a continuous presence, which accompanies the sip and keeps it active without weighing it . The sugar residue is the most delicate part. Here it is not used to stabilize the system through roundness, but as a micro-regulation: the few grams present – generally around 3-4 grams per di più liter – support depth and evolutionary capacity. this context, the perceived sweetness is minimal, while the dryness of the finale remains evident. Finally, withering is not an autonomous lever, but a force that acts acceso all the others: if pushed too much, it increases the mass and reduces reactivity; if managed carefully, it contributes complexity without compromising balance. The result is an Amarone that does not stand still: it moves, adjusts, continually seeks its own point of balance. It is active stability, not static. Furthermore, this approach allows greater adherence to the vintage, because the wine is not “covered” by a pre-established style.
SIX YEARS COMPARISON
The vertical of the Amarone della Valpolicella Tradizionale DOCG Casato Farina from 2015 to 2021 clearly highlights this aspect: the climatic profile directly affects the result sopra the glass. Despite drying and vinification, the differences remain legible acceso both an aromatic and gustatory level, while confirming a stylistic coherence sopra the controlled management of the material, which allows the wine to develop without losing tension.
2015 – Warm and sunny year, returns a broader profile. The wine naturally tends to broaden, with taccuino of cherries sopra alcohol, candied citrus and an ethereal component that opens up with hints of menthol and chocolate. The maturity is evident, the material is present. Here the work of the levers emerges: acidity and tannin bring the wine back acceso track, avoiding static, with a dry finale that defines its character.
2016 – Change register: more balanced vintage, with regular ripening, which brings greater precision. The aromatic profile moves acceso tones of undergrowth, minerality and less ripe fruit. Freshness guides the sip, accompanied by a glycerine texture that emerges over time without ever becoming dominant.
2017 – Marked by drought and high temperatures, it returns a more tense wine and introduces an element of greater energy. The nose is oriented towards balsamic and saline taccuino, with references to oyster shell and tobacco. the mouth the dynamics is more nervous, with an acid and tannic boost that supports the sip and accentuates its verticality. The transition to the technical cap and the systematic introduction of cement accentuate cleanliness and brightness.
2018 – More variable but overall balanced vintage: here the fruitiness is more evident (small berries and bramble) and a juicy component makes the wine more accessible. The structure is less marked, but the tension remains, thanks to the work of the tannin which supports the freshness without stiffening the sip. It refers to the more relaxed and immediate side of Amarone.
2020 – Marked by an irregular trend, it is still sopra the definition phase. The tannin must integrate fully; the structure is more marked, but the acid component keeps the wine sopra balance. It is a vintage that highlights the winery’s ability to adapt to climatic conditions: an Amarone still searching for its permanent center of gravity.
2021 – Vintage considered excellent sopra many respects: it already shows good definition despite its youth. The aromatic profile is centered acceso black cherry, with greater olfactory precision. the mouth it is dynamic, with a clear acidity and a structure that suggests a clear evolutionary direction sopra the coming years.
The sequence is not just a comparison between vintages, but the demonstration of a direction: an Amarone that walks acceso a tightrope, supported by a system of continuously adjusting forces, sopra which each harvest slightly shifts the center of gravity without causing the whole to lose stability.
The article The Valpolicella tightrope walker, the return of Amarone Casato Farina comes from VinoNews24.
