Vineyards and winemaking
Terre di San Zeno is led by 65% Corvina with 20% Rondinella and 15% traditional local varieties, including Molinara and Dindarella. The grapes come from Corteforte’s small holdings in the Fumane valley, where carefully managed sites in the Valpolicella Classico zone provide the ripe fruit and natural freshness needed for Amarone.
Selected bunches were dried in wooden crates for as long as four months, concentrating flavour through the traditional appassimento process. The dried grapes were crushed in the cooler early months of the following year and fermented slowly, before maturation in small oak casks and a further period of rest in bottle.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Deep garnet red with a subtle orange glint at the rim.
Nose
Morello cherry, blackberry preserve and dried violet are layered with liquorice, star anise and vanilla. A touch of cocoa and balsamic spice gives the generous bouquet additional definition.
Palate
Rich and full-bodied, yet alive with savoury freshness. Dark cherry and plum sit within polished tannins, while anise, dark chocolate and fine oak spice extend into a long, gently warming and lightly saline finish.
Food pairing
Pair with slow-cooked beef and polenta, roast venison with blackberry sauce, ox-cheek ravioli, or aged Parmesan. Its depth also suits a chestnut and wild mushroom casserole finished with rosemary.
Background story
Corteforte occupies a historic property in Fumane whose origins lie in a fortified early-15th-century complex. Carlo Maria Cerutti began releasing wine from the estate in 1989, building a reputation around small-production Valpolicella made with long, patient maturation.
Terre di San Zeno is the estate’s classic expression of Amarone: dried local grapes, slow fermentation and extended ageing used to create concentration without sacrificing clarity. The 2016 vintage shows that balance particularly well, combining preserved-cherry richness with spice, savoury energy and a persistent finish.
