Corte Sant'Alda Valpolicella "Ca' Fiui" '22

Marinella Camerani is a first-generation farmer, having quit her job as an accountant in the family’s battery factory and moved to the farm. Here, she oversees a 40-hectare estate, half of which is under vine. Her winery is located in the Mezzane Valley, in the eastern sector of the Verona province. This very fertile valley is an agricultural jewel box, with grapes as well as olive groves, cherry trees, and chestnut trees dotting the landscape. It provides a perfect environment for the local grapes of the region, including Corvina Grossa, Corvina Veronese, Molinara, and Rondinella, which compose the “Ca’Fiui” blend. 

Over the years, she has become a leader in the region of Veneto in terms of quality as well as organic farming and biodynamic practices. She began this relationship with her vines in 1986, after a difficult harvest, and over the years she has done extensive research on soil types in her vineyard, taken different approaches with vineyard density and trellising, and become a leader in organic and biodynamic farming.

The “Ca’ Fiui” is made with grapes harvested from 30- to 40-year-old vines planted in four vineyards on the property (Tamasotti, Bianchini, Rossetti, and Cavallero). Fermentation was carried out in large oak vats (40 hectoliters) with native yeast. The wine is aged in the same barrels for 6 to 10 months before bottling. 

This is a beautiful expression of Valpolicella, with red cherry notes emerging alongside aromas of violets, green peppercorn, dried herbs, cacao, and anise. The palate is bright, fresh, and long, with moderate tannins, food-friendly acidity, and an enticing hint of cherry-pit bitterness. This is a great summer red wine, along the lines of a Pinot Noir or Gamay yet very much showing its own character. Pair it with grilled chicken or tuna or swordfish steaks and a barigoule of fresh vegetables.