Superiore Rafael
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed within 3 to 7 years from the vintage release, when its vibrant red fruit profile and refined structure are in perfect harmony.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Classic pasta dishes with meat ragù, roasted poultry or pork, and medium-aged Italian cheeses such as Asiago.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
The 'Rafael' vineyard is a historic jewel in the crown of the Tommasi family, who have been crafting benchmark wines in the Veneto region since 1902. Located on the rolling hills of San Pietro in Cariano within the prestigious Valpolicella Classico zone, this single vineyard boasts optimal sun exposure and fertile clay-loam soils. The wine is a classic, elegant expression of the region, traditionally blended from Corvina Veronese, Rondinella, and Molinara grapes. Unlike its bolder cousin Amarone, the Rafael Valpolicella Classico Superiore focuses on freshness and grace; it is aged for approximately 15 months in large, traditional Slavonian oak casks. This gentle wood contact allows the vibrant red cherry, floral, and subtle spice notes of the terroir to shine through, embodying the historic soul of Valpolicella winemaking.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1902 by Giacomo Tommasi, Tommasi Viticoltori is a historic family-owned estate located in Pedemonte, in the heart of the Valpolicella Classico region of Veneto, Italy. Now managed by the fourth generation of the Tommasi family, the estate has grown from a small vineyard into one of Italy's most respected wine producers, while remaining deeply committed to traditional viticultural practices and the expression of local terroir. The winery is celebrated for its mastery of the appassimento technique, producing world-class Amarone della Valpolicella, such as the single-vineyard Ca' Florian, alongside elegant Valpolicella Classico Superiore Rafael and expressive white wines from Lugana like Fornaci.