Vineyards and winemaking
Rubro brings together the traditional red grapes of the Veneto—Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Molinara—with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. The combination gives Corvina’s bright cherry character a darker-fruited, more structured frame, while Corteforte’s low-volume approach keeps the blend focused rather than overly extracted.
After fermentation, the wine matured for eight to ten months in French oak, followed by a further six months in bottle before release. That measured élevage allowed the varieties to settle into one another, adding spice and polish while retaining the mature wine’s fragrant red-fruit core.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Deep ruby red with a garnet edge and good clarity.
Nose
Plum, black cherry and dried rose lead into blackberry, sweet tobacco and cedar. Notes of pepper, vanilla and warm earth become more apparent as the wine opens.
Palate
Full and rounded, with ripe cherry and plum supported by supple tannins and a savoury line of dried herbs. Integrated oak contributes gentle spice, while balanced acidity carries a composed finish of dark fruit and cocoa.
Food pairing
Serve with beef shin lasagne, roast pork with fennel, grilled aubergine with tomato and Parmesan, or a venison and redcurrant pie. Its mature fruit also works well with a firm, nutty cheese such as aged Asiago.
Background story
Carlo Maria Cerutti established Corteforte as a commercial wine estate in 1989, within a historic property in Fumane whose fortified origins reach back to the early 15th century. The surviving towers and deep cellars give the small estate an unusually tangible connection to Valpolicella’s past.
With only around three hectares of vineyards and modest annual production, Corteforte has remained deliberately artisanal. Rubro shows the estate beyond its Amarone and Recioto: a characterful blend in which local grapes meet international varieties, shaped by the same patience in cask and bottle.
