Casa Lupo Ripasso Della Valpolicella Superiore DOC

Casa Lupo Ripasso Della Valpolicella Superiore DOC, from Veneto Italy. 10% Rondinella and 10% other grape varieties, 15% Corvinone, 65% Corvina. An intense red color with beautiful garnet hues. A seductive scent reminiscent of small red berries such as currants and blackberries, enriched with nuances of violets, plums and a hint of spice. Fresh notes of small red berries unfold on the palate, supported by velvety, delicate and perfectly balanced tannins.

Corvina is a blue grape of reasonable quality and is the main ingredient of the Valpolicella and Bardolino, both light red wines from northeastern Italy. The grape rarely produces much color and tannin, but has a soft flavor with mild cherry fruit and some almonds. Corvina is at its best when the grape is dried for recioto and amorano wines. Corvina has a small grape with a thick skin, which shrivels and protects against rot.

The grape Corvinone – which literally means ‘great Corvina’ – is traditionally seen as a subvariety or mutation of the Corvina. However, more and more experts today agree that the Corvinone is at best a distant relative of the Corvina. The Corvinone produces fruit on the first sprouts of the plant and has a deeper color, a higher sugar content and firmer tannins than the Corvina. If yields are kept low, corvinone gives juicy, purple fruit and lots of aroma to the wine. It is also very suitable for drying

Rondinella is part of the Valpolicella blend and is usually the least Characterful blending partner. The grape lacks the elegance and aroma of the Corvina, the main grape in the blend. Rondinella is disease-resistant, very productive and therefore popular with grape growers. The sugar content does not get very high, but the grape dries very well and therefore proves its worth in the recioto blend wine.