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
Established in 1960 by Sergio and Carla Zenato on the southern banks of Lake Garda, Zenato is an iconic dual-terroir estate celebrated for elevating the profile of Turbiana (Trebbiano di Lugana) as well as mastering classic Veronese reds. The family's viticultural footprint spans mineral-laden, compacted morainic clays in Lugana alongside hillside limestone and calcareous marl terraces at Tenuta Costalunga in Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella. Managed today by second-generation siblings Alberto and Nadia Zenato, the estate emphasizes certified sustainable viticulture under Equalitas frameworks, marrying regional traditions with meticulous modern precision. Winemaking prioritizes varietal clarity, structural longevity, and terroir fidelity, highlighted by temperature-controlled stainless steel aging for whites, wood maturation for selections, and refined appassimento techniques for red expressions. Benchmark labels include the flagship Lugana Riserva Sergio Zenato, Lugana San Benedetto, Metodo Classico Lugana Brut, and monumental red icons including Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva and Ripassa Valpolicella Superiore.