Variety: Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella

I was introduced to this wine by Christoph Kuenzli, from the famed Le Piane winery in northern Piemonte. Finding a great producer in the hills of Valpolicella can be tough so leaning on friends always helps. There are many regions in Italy that show the detrimental hand of western trends. Ca’La Bionda is located in the historic “classic” zone of the Valpolicella region. Founded in 1902, the family’s focus has always been on the grapes and the vineyard work. They presently cultivate 25 hectares. Alessandro Castellani is the current, fourth-generation winemaker. His wines are held in six-foot-tall oak casks until ready to drink. Certain wines are aged longer than others. But at every step of the way, attention is given to tradition, as opposed to modern, quick winemaking. Alessandro’s wines rarely receive much mainstream press, which is fine by him.

The Ravazzol Amarone is a blend of 70% Corvina, 20% Corvinone and 10% Rondinella from 50-70 year old vines grown on the hillside vineyard of Ravazzol. Immediately after harvest in September and October, the bunches of grapes are placed on cane drying racks until January or February in order to dry out the grapes, concentrating flavors and helping to delivering the unique aromas and structure of Amarone.