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
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.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Corvina (45-95%), Corvinone, Rondinella