CA’MARITTA VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO SUPERIORE DOC 2013
From the hills of the northern part of Verona, this “baby Amarone” includes 45% Corvina Veronese, 30% Corvinone, 10% Rondinella, and 5% Croatina. In the late 20th century, a new style of wine known as ripasso (meaning “repassed”) emerged. With this technique, the pomace of leftover grape skins and seeds from the fermentation of Amarone are added to the batch of Valpolicella wines for a period of extended maceration. As the production of Amarone has increased in the 21st century, so too has the prevalence of ripasso style wines appearing in the wine market, with most Amarone producers also producing a ripasso as a type of “wine”. This wine pairs well with pasta dishes, game, aged cheeses and smoked ham
Corvina– is a late ripening grape that is mainly grown in the Veneto region of Italy. It has very thick skin and is known for having high acidity, low tannins and notes of sour cherry and bitter almond. Corvinone – is believed to be a subvariety of Corvina. It has a lower alcohol content and slightly lighter color than Corvina, but is more aromatic. Rondinella – produces high yields and has somewhat neutral flavors. Its thick skin makes it incredibly resistant to disease and excellent for drying out. Croatina -Another name for Bonarda, this ancient varietal is planted extensively throughout Piedmont, Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna.