Description

PRODUCER:
The family business has been handed down through the generations of the Tessari family since the early 1900s. The estate was renamed Ca’Rugate in 1986, taking its name from the volcanic hills where the vineyards are located. Now run by the fourth generation, Michele has brought with him a lively, passionate and entrepreneurial spirit. Considerable expansion has taken place in recent years, with investment in a new technologically advanced cellar and expansion into the Valpolicella area with the purchase of vineyards in the hilly zone of Montecchia di Crosara. The estate now covers 90 hectares of vineyard. Ca’Rugate has been awarded the prestigious ‘Tre Bicchieri’ award rating from Gambero Rosso multiple times, making it one of the most awarded producers in the competition and has been hailed by the New York Times as one of the “Top Five producers of High-End Soave”.

VINEYARD:
Valpolicella DOC is located on the gentle slopes of the Montecchia di Crosara and Cazzano di Tramigna valleys. Ca Rugate’s vineyards are situated in the district of Montecchia di Crosara, at an altitude of 450 metres above sea level. The six-hectare Campo Lavei vineyard is situated on the hillside, where the vines yield 90 quintals per hectare and are grown in limestone and pebble soils. It is certified organic.

WINEMAKING:
At the beginning of October, some of the harvested grapes are set aside to dry in wooden trays until the end of December. The undried grapes were destemmed and fermented immediately after the harvest. The dried grapes were added at a later stage and allowed to ferment in stainless steel for approximately one week before pressing, which took place at the end of December. The wine was then transferred to small barrels to complete fermentation and mature in oak for 8 to 10 months.

TASTING NOTE:
Intense aromas of black fruit and cherry are layered with a hint of coffee and oak spice through to a mellow, balanced and rounded palate, complete with elegant tannins and a silky finish.

GRAPES:
Corvina 45%, Corvinone 40%, Rondinella 15%.