Canaja Gold
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 3–8 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Slow-cooked beef stew, roasted lamb, aged pecorino cheese
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Hailing from the historic hills of the Veneto, Villa Annaberta's Canaja Gold is a profound tribute to the region's ancient appassimento heritage. The name 'Canaja' translates in local Veronese dialect to a 'mischievous rascal' or 'rogue,' a playful nod to the wine's bold, rebellious, and seductive character that defies simpler, traditional styles. Crafted under the flexible Rosso Verona IGT classification, this cuvée benefits from the creative freedom to express the terroir outside of rigid DOCG constraints. The hand-harvested grapes are carefully laid out to dry in specialized drying rooms (fruttaio) for several weeks, a patient process that dehydrates the berries, concentrating their natural sugars, rich color, and complex aromatics. The resulting wine is exceptionally velvety, offering a luxurious depth of dark fruit and spice that captures the warmth and soul of Verona's winemaking legacy.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Villa Annaberta is a prestigious brand of the Cottini family, whose winemaking heritage in the Veneto region dates back to 1925 when it was founded by Carlo Cottini. Today, under the guidance of Diego Cottini and named in honor of his wife Annaberta, the estate combines deep-rooted Valpolicella traditions with modern innovation. Located in Caprino Veronese near Lake Garda, the winery is celebrated for its mastery of the traditional appassimento technique, drying grapes to achieve exceptional concentration and depth. This dedication is showcased in their robust red wines, particularly the acclaimed Canaja Gold, a rich and structured expression crafted from partially dried native Veronese grapes.