# Le Miniere di Novare Valpolicella Classico (2023)

- **Producer:** Bertani
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Corvina Veronese, Corvinone, Rondinella
- **Region:** Veneto, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.0%
- **Average price:** €25
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, strawberry, redcurrant, violet, black pepper

## About this wine

Le Miniere di Novare is a single-vineyard Valpolicella Classico from the historic Bertani estate, now part of Angelini Wines & Estates. Located in the heart of the Valpolicella Classica zone in Arbizzano di Negrar, this wine represents a stylistic revolution led by Master of Wine Andrea Lonardi. It aims to showcase the elegance, transparency, and terroir of the region by moving away from the heavy, high-alcohol, and dried-grape styles often associated with Valpolicella. The vineyard itself is named after the ancient subterranean iron and mercury mines of the Tenuta Novare estate, which contribute to the unique mineral profile of the soils. This wine is a pure expression of the local grapes, focusing on freshness and drinkability.

## Interesting facts

- The vineyard sits directly above ancient subterranean iron and mercury mines, giving the soil a unique reddish, mineral-rich clay composition.
- This wine is aged entirely in concrete vats with zero oak contact to preserve its pure, vibrant fruit and mineral salinity.
- Bertani was named Winery of the Year by Gambero Rosso in 2023, celebrating their terroir-driven stylistic evolution.

## Food pairing

This light-to-medium-bodied red wine thrives on its high acidity and low tannins. It acts as a refreshing palate cleanser for rich, savory charcuterie and complements earthy flavors like wild mushrooms. Its bright red fruit profile pairs beautifully with duck and pork, while its high acidity allows it to cut through tomato-based sauces and even stand up to hearty fish stews without being metallic.

## Wine making process

The grapes are hand-harvested from the 4.01-hectare Le Miniere vineyard. Vinification involves a long skin maceration followed by fermentation in temperature-controlled vessels at 20 degrees Celsius. To preserve the pure fruit characteristics and the distinct salinity of the soil, the wine is aged entirely without oak. Instead, it undergoes fermentation and aging exclusively in concrete vats for six to nine months, followed by a minimum of six months of bottle maturation before release. This minimalist approach ensures that the unique terroir of the single vineyard is fully expressed in the glass without any wood influence.