Innovative, dynamic and diverse, Cesari is one of northeast Italy’s leading wineries. Founded in 1936 by the entrepreneur Gerardo Cesari, the firm owns vineyards in several exceptional terroirs, producing a wide range of red wines as well as some white specialties. Yet the jewel in the family’s crown has long been its holdings in Valpolicella Classico, situated to the east of Lake Garda.
Italian craftsmanship
Many of Verona’s best reds are made from fruit grown in these limestone hills; southeast-facing slopes constitute the appellation’s unofficial ‘Grand Crus’. They reach an apogee in Amarone della Valpolicella – one of Italy’s true classics. Indeed, Cesari’s original vision was to produce a hallmark Amarone wine, able to compete with the world’s best. With a keen eye on tradition, Cesari has spent decades perfecting this iconic expression of local terroir.
The magic starts in the vineyard. Only the finest berries are harvested to make Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, picked relatively early to maintain freshness. The grapes are then left to dry in selected locations, called ‘fruttaio’, to avoid being attacked by mould and rot. After the drying period has ended (usually in December), the berries are crushed and left to macerate on their skins for a period of 20-30 days.
The young wines are then aged for 12 months in large barrels of Slavonian oak; 30% of the blend is matured in small casks, barriques and tonneaux (French oak). A further period of bottle ageing – at least six to eight months – enhances
