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| Vineyards and vine-growing techniques |
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Our vineyards are situated at an altitude of between 130 and 250 metres above sea level facing south/south-west. The terrain, of morainic origin, is largely calcareous, of good consistency, rich in clay, apart from a small area of volcanic origin, situated on the hills near Negrar and facing east. In accordance with the type of terrain we have decided on a relatively low density of plants per hectare, around 2000 - 2500 plants on the hills and 3000 on flat ground, considering it to be most suitable for the growing of vines of limited vigour.
The type of pruning adopted, with 14 - 18 buds per plant, is also designed to obtain the well-balanced and best possible relationship between the quantity and the quality produced, likewise the choice of the rootstock, the 420A, which attenuates the vigour of the vines from the onset of ripening up to the moment of picking, reducing the attraction of sugars by vegetative tips and encouraging their greater accumulation in the grape.
At the moment we have not yet decided to adopt specific techniques of organic or biodynamic farming and we prefer to conserve the environment of the vineyard by reducing fertilisation treatments based on organic substances, which take place every three years, using only copper sulphate, which encourages the formation of grapes with a resistant skin, suitable for the processes of withering of the grapes, and maintaining the terrain grassy, so that the roots of the vines maintain a solid contact with the more superficial layer of the terrain. A layer which in the case of rain tends to dry out very rapidly, impeding the dangerous stagnation of water and the excessive vigour of the vines.
The typical species of vine in Valpolicella
There follows a brief description of the specific ampelographic qualities of the main varieties cultivated by our vineyard.
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Corvina veronese
It has small, compact, pyramid-shaped bunches with asymmetrical wings. The grape is round and ellipsoidal, with pruinose skin of a violet-blue colour and it is vulnerable to attack by Botrytis. It produces a bright red wine, with a marked taste of cherry and raspberry, excellent body, complex and elegant. |
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Corvinone
It has large, compact, pyramid-shaped bunches with two wings. The grape is large, round and ellipsoidal, with a thick pruinose skin of a violet-blue colour and is particularly vulnerable, even more than the Corvina, to attack by Botrytis. It produces a bright red wine, rich, velvety and intensely fruity, above all for the grapes coming from the hills. |
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Rondinella
It has compact, cylidrical-pyramid-shaped bunches with a single wing. The grape is cylindrical, of a violet-blue colour and has a thick skin. It has good resistance to disease and is thus particularly suitable for withering. It produces a bright red wine, with a clear suggestions of cherry and berry fruits and good acidity. |
Molinara
It has medium-large, cylidrical-shaped bunches with wings. The grape is spherical, of a rosy colour and medium-sized, with a pruinose skin. It has particularly good resistance to mould.
It produces a light wine, pink, fruity and of medium duration. It is thus particularly suitable for the production of vintage Valpolicella Classico
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