Cresasso
⏳ Drinking Window
2018 - 2030
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Slow-braised beef cheeks, roasted game meats such as wild boar, and aged cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino.
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the stony soils of Zenato's Costalunga estate in Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella, Cresasso is a magnificent tribute to Corvina Veronese, Veneto's signature red grape. While Corvina is traditionally blended to create Valpolicella and Amarone, Zenato crafts Cresasso as a rare, single-varietal expression. The name itself is a poetic nod to the terroir, blending 'creta' (clay) and 'sasso' (stone), reflecting the rugged, limestone-rich soils where these vines dig deep. To capture both freshness and depth, Zenato employs a meticulous dual-harvest method: a portion of the grapes undergoes a brief appassimento (drying) process to concentrate sugars and aromatics, while the remainder is vinified fresh. This masterfully balanced blend is then aged for 24 months in French oak tonneaux, resulting in a wine of profound complexity, boasting notes of dark wild cherries, cloves, and a distinctive balsamic undertone that honors Veronese winemaking heritage.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1960 by Sergio Zenato and his wife Carla, the Zenato estate is situated along the historic southern shores of Lake Garda in Peschiera del Garda, bridging the viticultural traditions of Veneto and Lombardy. Guided by a profound passion for local terroir and indigenous grape varieties, Sergio became a seminal visionary who championed the potential of Turbiana to craft world-class Lugana white wines before expanding the family's holdings into the prestigious hills of Valpolicella Classica. Today, the estate is passionately managed by their children, Alberto and Nadia Zenato, who uphold the family's dedication to meticulous vineyard management and traditional winemaking excellence. Zenato is celebrated globally for its benchmark expressions, including the mineral-rich Lugana Riserva Sergio Zenato, opulent Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, and single-vineyard Corvina bottlings like Cresasso.