Region: Veneto, Italy

Varietal: Corvina Veronese, Merlot and Syrah

Tasting notes: This IGT wine is a fruity, spicy blend of a traditional Veronese variety, Corvina, and international grapes, Merlot and Syrah. The Pràgal opens with an enchanting bouquet of red fruit preserves, dried roses and black cherries alternating with subtler tones of dark spice, tobacco and black pepper. The addition of partially dried grapes (Corvina) lends soft tannins balanced with bright acidity; this wine charms with great structure and persistence.

Producer: The Bertani name represents centuries of wine-making experience. When brothers Gaetano and Giovanni Battista Bertani founded the historic cellar in the second half of the 19th century, their efforts were built upon an already firmly established viticultural heritage dating back to the 15th century. Combining their deep respect for tradition and appreciation for the land with an innovative and courageous spirit for quality wine-making, the two brothers gave birth to a highly successful enterprise that was quite trailblazing for the Veneto of that era. They were the first in the region to bottle and sell typical Veronese varieties such as Valpolicella Ripasso, Recioto and Soave on a large scale, and innovative cultivation techniques (Guyot method for high-density, low-yield) and enological innovations (such as the Ripasso method, a second fermentation of Valpolicella created by “passing over” Recioto grape skins) brought them national and international recognition for winemaking quality.

Vineyard and Winemaking: Merlot and Syrah undergo cold maceration and temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Corvina undergoes a partial "appassimento" in temperature and humidity controlled drying room until grapes reach desired sugar content (usually November, depending on the vintage). Fermentation is followed by approx. 20 -30 days maceration depending on grape charachteristics