Villa Spinosa
Italy / Valpolicella~Veneto
Producer Info
This traditional, family-owned estate – initially by the Jago, then Albasini & currently Spinosa family – dates back to 1860, & is set among gardens of the fine 19th century Villa. And since 2017, Enrico Cascella Spinosa has been joined by his nepote, Piergiovanni Ferrarese.
The property comprises c.25ha located on the western flank of the Negrar comune, & on the border with Marano di Valpolicella. La Valle di Negrar lies on the east part of the Classica zone, at c.400m asl, hence higher & farther from the warming influence of the Lago di Garda further west. Soils are a mixed of sedimentary ancient calcareous stones, sandstone, flint & volcanic red basalt.
Starting in the 1990s, the vineyards have been re-trellised from 1.8k/ha pergola to 4k/ha guyot. In 2018 they completed the new, underground cantina & bottaio, where they age the wines in 5yo french tonneaux & Garbellotto 20/25 HL botte.
The wines are traditionally made, using static, vertical, stainless-steel fermentors. Appassimento of the local Corvina Veronese, Corvinone & Rondinella grapes takes place on the premises.
Wines
- Valpolicella Classico – from younger 15yo Corvina Veronese, Corvinone & a small percentage of Rondinella vines, stainless-steel
- Valpolicella Classico Superiore ‘Figari’ – new in 2017, from the single, sunny vyd of Figari in the comune of Marano, no passito fruit. Next vintage will be 2019. Corvina, Corvinone, & Rondinella.
- Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso ‘Jago’ – the vernaccia of (2018) Amarone is added to the Valpolicella Classico Sup. to give a Ripasso, aged for 6-9 mths in tonneaux & botte grande. Sourced from crus Jago & Masua.
- Amarone della Valpolicella Classica (etichetta Rossa) – largely sourced from the Negrar vyds of Jago & Costa del Buso, plus from Marano’s Figari, appassito, & aged for 24 mths in tonneaux & botte grande
- Amarone della Valpolicella Classica ‘Albasini’ – provenienza is the Figari vyd, plus some fruit from Masua, aged for 12 mths in tonneaux, & 48 mths in botte grande; the next release will be of vintage 2015 in Sept ’22.
- Amarone della Valpolicella Classica ‘Giuglielmi di Jago 10 Anni’ – released ten years after the harvest. Current vintage is 2007.