Riserva
⏳ Drinking Window
2016 - 2035
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Slow-braised beef cheeks, aged Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and roasted wild game such as venison.
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the historic hills of Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella in Veneto, Zenato's landmark Riserva—dedicated to the estate's visionary founder, Sergio Zenato—represents the pinnacle of the region's appassimento winemaking tradition. Crafted only in exceptional vintages, this profound red is primarily composed of Corvina and Rondinella, with small additions of Oseleta and Croatina. The hand-harvested grapes are dried for several months in specialized drying rooms (fruttaio), concentrating their sugars, acids, and aromatics before a slow, cool fermentation. The wine is then aged for at least four years in large Slavonian oak casks, resulting in an incredibly complex, velvety masterpiece. The Zenato family legacy, which began in 1960, is deeply intertwined with the modern renaissance of Amarone, transforming what was once a local rustic style into one of Italy's most prestigious and collectible red wines.
🍾 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.
🍇 Grapes
Corvina (45-95%), Corvinone, Rondinella