Corteforte

Soc. Agr. Corteforte s.s.

Corteforte is a small niche winery of the classic Valpolicella, in the heart of this historic land. Its vineyards are recognized among the best in the area, as they are located on gentle hilly slopes that absorb the sun’s rays from sunrise to sunset: benefits that are reflected in the quality of the wines, with their distinctive and rare hints of rose, violet, and almond. Raised with the traditional Veronese Pergola method, they extend for about three hectares ad an altitude between 150 and 300 meters on the soil of volcanic origin, basaltic with red stone and limestone.

The grapes belong to the ampelographic tradition of Valpolicella: Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara, as well as a small amount of rarer native varieties: Oseleta, Dindarella, Pelara.

The grape’s drying process takes place in a designated “fruit drying room” and the wines are aged in large barrels and with a final passage in French oak tonneau. Our wines are distinguished by their strong traditional character.

Corteforte produces four distinct types of Amarone:

“Terre di San Zeno”, which takes its name from vineyards once benefited by the Abbot of Saint Zeno; “Vigneti di Osan”, a small “cru” plot which produces a few hundred bottles and the “Dea Lualda”, the flagship of Corteforte, which is born only in excellent vintages and with the very best fruits. Because of this, it has been dedicated to the patron Goddess of the fertility of the fields and the prosperity of the crops at the time of the Arusnati (an ancient population native of Valpolicella, before the Roman conquest). A fourth Amarone was added after the introduction of the specification for the Valpolicella Classica Riserva, requiring a high alcohol content and long aging, characteristics that are also common to the other Corteforte Amarone’s described above, and the officially registered one is called “Riserva”.

Corteforte does not put its Amaroni on the market before 7 years from the harvest, all sharing high alcohol content and high extracts.
Corteforte’s offer is completed by a Valpolicella Ripasso, in both traditional and organic (Bio) version and the classic red Recioto, both types with excellent qualities that have achieved the highest international awards.

A unique and particular product is the “Recioto Amandorlato”, an ancient wine from the Valpolicella before the “discovery” of Amarone, and which, due to the lower quantity of sugars, approached the latter, distancing itself from the denser and sugarier Recioto Classico.  The Amandorlato is thus considered the “noble father” of Amarone.

The Red IGT’s “Concentus” and “Rubro”, are lighter wines to drink and are inspired by the harmonious combination of the grapes used for the classic wines of Valpolicella (Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara plus other indigenous ones) with those equally admitted in its ampelographic base (Merlot, Cabernet, etc.) conclude the overview of the treasures of Corteforte!