Pieropan Calvarino Soave Classico DOC

The grapes were hand harvested in order to select the ripest grapes of optimum quality. The Trebbiano di Soave grapes were harvested in mid-September and the Garganega grapes were harvested slightly later in October. At the winery, the grapes were destemmed and crushed, the juice was then fermented in glass-lined cement tanks at around 17°C. The wine was aged on its lees for a year in the cement tanks for increased richness and complexity. Ageing in bottle took place for a few months prior to release.

Pieropan's estate covers 35 hectares of vineyard, all of which are situated on the stony hills of Soave Classico. The Pieropan family has been producing wines in Soave since the 1890s. Indeed, they were the first producer to bottle a wine with the name Soave on the label in the early 1930s. Nino Pieropan took over from his father in 1970 and was the first producer in Soave to make a single vineyard wine, 'Calvarino', in 1971. Nino's two sons, Andrea and Dario, now work with him running the estate.

In 1999, the Pieropan family bought a property in Cellore d'Illasi, in the Valpolicella and Amarone production area, where today they have eight hectares under vine. Due to a recent change in legislation, Pieropan's Soave can now be labelled as 'Classico' and sealed under Stelvin. The wine has never been better. It is scented and beautifully defined, with hints of honeysuckle and almond on the finish. They make two single vineyard wines: 'Calvarino', owned by the family since 1901, is on the classic volcanic basalt of Soave Classico; while 'La Rocca' is situated on the only limestone outcrop in the zone. The former is unoaked and minerally and reminiscent of good Chablis, while the latter, fermented in 500 litre barrels, is rich and opulent..