Capitel Nicalo
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2025
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Slow-cooked beef ragù over fresh pasta, roasted duck breast, or aged cheeses such as Pecorino or seasoned Asiago.
✨ Technical Specifications
Crafted by the historic Tedeschi family, whose winemaking roots in Valpolicella date back to 1630, Capitel Nicalo is a striking expression of Valpolicella Superiore. The name 'Capitel' pays homage to the traditional stone shrines dotting the Veronese countryside, while 'Nicalo' references a historic family vineyard. This red blend is crafted from classic local varieties—primarily Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella—grown on the clay-limestone morainic hills of the region. To imbue the wine with its signature depth and velvety texture, Tedeschi employs a brief appassimento process, drying a portion of the grapes for approximately one month before fermentation. Following this, the wine is aged in Slavonian oak casks, resulting in a harmonious balance of vibrant dark cherry fruit, subtle spice, and elegant structure that honors centuries of Venetian viticultural tradition.
🍾 About the Producer
Tracing its viticultural heritage back to 1630, Agricola Fratelli Tedeschi is a cornerstone of the Valpolicella Classica region. Based in Pedemonte, the estate is directed by siblings Antonietta, Sabrina, and winemaker Riccardo Tedeschi, who carry forward a multi-generational legacy refined by their father Lorenzo. Lorenzo pioneered single-vineyard bottlings in Valpolicella in the 1960s with the legendary Capitel Monte Olmi. The Tedeschi vineyards—spanning prominent crus including Monte Olmi, La Fabriseria, and Maternigo—occupy terraced limestone, marl, and calcareous clay soils ranging from 130 to over 400 meters in elevation. Employing precise micro-zonation and certified sustainable practices through Equalitas and Biodiversity Friend, Tedeschi champions indigenous Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella alongside historic varieties like Oseleta. Winemaking centers on measured, climate-controlled appassimento, extended fermentations, and disciplined aging in large Slavonian oak casks. The resulting Amarone della Valpolicella and Valpolicella Superiore wines are internationally acclaimed for their crystalline aromatic purity, structural tension, and age-worthy elegance.
🍇 Grapes
Corvina (45-95%), Corvinone, Rondinella