Cresasso
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5 to 12 years from the vintage release, as its robust tannins soften and the complex tertiary notes of spice and leather fully emerge.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Slow-braised beef cheeks, roasted game meats such as wild boar, and aged cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
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.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1960 by Sergio Zenato and his wife Carla, the Zenato winery is situated on the morainic hills of Lake Garda in San Benedetto di Lugana, Veneto, Italy. Today, the estate is managed by their children, Alberto and Francesca, who continue to champion the unique terroirs of both Lugana and Valpolicella. Renowned for pioneering the quality resurgence of the indigenous Turbiana grape, Zenato produces exceptional white wines, including the iconic Lugana Riserva Sergio Zenato. In Valpolicella, the family crafts powerful, elegant red wines from their Costalunga estate, most notably their acclaimed Amarone della Valpolicella Classico and the single-varietal Corvina, Cresasso.