This advertising content was produced in collaboration with our partner, Bertani.
For nearly two centuries, Bertani has captured the essence of Valpolicella with classic wines rooted in tradition and elegance. When the winery was founded in 1857 by brothers Giovan Battista and Gaetano Bertani, quality was put at the center of production, a trailblazing decision that has made Bertani one of the most esteemed wineries in Italy’s Veneto region.
The winery’s appreciation for tradition, respect for nature, and dedication to creating terroir-driven wines have helped establish the region as a premiere winemaking destination. From the beginning, Bertani has employed innovative winemaking methods that result in wines with precision and balance. In the vineyard, modern approaches to vine training and grape cultivation—and minimal intervention in the cellar—have helped designate Bertani as a revolutionary producer.
In the 1950s, Bertani pioneered the production of Amarone della Valpolicella, one of the most important wines from the region. Formerly known as Recioto della Valpolicella Amarone, Bertani’s powerful yet harmonious Amarone della Valpolicella Classico gained the affection of critics and wine enthusiasts around the world even before the Valpolicella DOC recognized the wine style in 1968, and before it was granted DOCG status in 2010.
Don’t miss the latest drinks industry news and insights. Sign up for our award-winning newsletters and get insider intel, resources, and trends delivered to your inbox every week.
In the years since its creation, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG has become a signature wine in Bertani’s expansive portfolio, which includes a remarkable library of 45 vintages, many of which are still for sale. Bertani utilizes the same time-tested techniques to produce Amarone Classico each year, such as selecting only the top 30 percent of clusters—comprised of 80 percent Corvina Veronese and 20 percent Rondinella—which undergo a meticulous sorting process before vinification. A natural drying period followed by a lengthy oak aging program yields a truly exceptional final product.
Despite uniformity in winemaking, each vintage of Amarone Classico is unique in style, framed by the distinctive conditions of each harvest. For instance, the sweltering summer of the 1967 vintage, bottled in 1984, resulted in an Amarone with a more gentle character, displaying ripe fruit and autumnal flavors, while the 1968 vintage exudes a more harmonious balance of red fruit and savory spices. More current releases, like the 2013 vintage, are exuberant and concentrated with dynamic aromatics. The 2012 vintage features a crescendo of freshness and finesse instead of density and power. But despite vintage differences, elegance is inherent to Amarone and, ultimately, Bertani—today, Amarone and Bertani are nearly synonymous.
With its commitment to preserving the traditions that make Amarone extraordinary, combined with progressive winemaking techniques that prioritize vineyard care, Bertani continues to push the region of Valpolicella forward, while etching itself into the hearts of customers on a global scale.
Dispatch
Sign up for our award-winning newsletter
Don’t miss the latest drinks industry news and insights—delivered to your inbox every week.
