Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG Classico: a timelessly charming wine that embodies the authentic winemaking tradition of our region. In the heart of Marano di Valpolicella, Cantina Campagnola has been dedicated for generations to producing the classic wines of the area, offering a unique sensory experience for wine enthusiasts. 

Wine Characteristics 

Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG Classico is a sweet wine with an intense red color and violet reflections, endowed with a finesse and elegance that make it unique. Its fruity aromas, dominated by notes of cherry and marasca, harmonize with a sweet, velvety, and rich taste on the palate. 

This wine is primarily composed of Corvina Veronese, Corvinone Veronese, and Rondinella grapes, handpicked and selected towards the end of September to ensure the highest quality. 

Produced in the classic zone of Valpolicella, in the renowned hilly vineyards of the Marano di Valpolicella municipality, characterized by a calcareous-eocenic soil type that imparts the wine its distinctive character. 

Vinification 

The vinification process of Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG Classico is an art that requires precision and care to achieve a high-quality wine with distinctive characteristics. Here’s how it’s done: 

After the manual harvest of the best-selected grapes in late September, the crucial phase of drying begins, lasting up to 140 days. During this period, the grapes are laid out in drying rooms where they undergo a natural dehydration that concentrates their sugars and aromas, contributing to the wine’s complexity. 

Next, the dried grapes are gently pressed, followed by a prolonged maceration with careful temperature control to best extract colors and aromas. 

Once the maceration phase is complete, the still-sweet wine, characterized by about 130 g/l of residual sugar, is drawn off and cooled to temperatures below 10°C. This step is crucial to preserve the desired residual sugars by inhibiting further alcoholic fermentation. Continuous racking ensures the wine’s cleanliness and purity, removing any residues and sediments. 

The wine is then left to mature and stored in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures, which help maintain the fresh and fruity aromas that characterize it. 

Gastronomic Pairings 

Being a sweet and aromatic wine, Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG Classico pairs magnificently with a variety of desserts and fruits. You can enjoy it with dry pastries such as cookies and shortcrust pastries, where the wine’s sweetness harmonizes with the crunchy texture of the sweets. 

Recioto also pairs pleasantly with fresh fruit, particularly strawberries and red berries, where the fruit’s acidity and freshness balance the wine’s sweetness. 

To fully appreciate Recioto della Valpolicella, ensure it is served cool, at around 13-15°C. This will enhance its aromas and maintain an optimal balance between sweetness and freshness. 

Curiosities 

Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG Classico carries with it a rich history of centuries-old traditions. Its name derives from the term “recie,” which in the local dialect means “ears,” referring to the grape clusters positioned higher on the vines, well-exposed to the sun’s rays, and thus perfectly ripe. 

Besides its history and cultural roots, Recioto della Valpolicella has also received significant recognition and awards that attest to its excellence and quality. In 2020, the Recioto della Valpolicella Classico DOCG ‘Casotto del Merlo’ garnered numerous prestigious awards: it received 2 glasses from Gambero Rosso, 3 stars from Touring Club Italiano, 95 points from Luca Maroni, and 4 bunches from Bibenda. These awards confirm the superior level of this wine and its ability to stand out internationally. 

Recioto della Valpolicella is not only a wine of extraordinary quality but also an important testament to the traditions and culture of Valpolicella.