CORTE DELLA MERIDIANA | VALTELLINA SUPERIORE DOCG

CORTE DELLA MERIDIANA | VALTELLINA SUPERIORE DOCG - only “Nebbiolo” grapes of the Chiavennasca variety are used, picked from vineyards whose roots sink down into the rocks of the subzones “Sassella” and “Grumello” in the “Valtellina Superiore” area. It is preferable to mix the two areas, since the drying method of a part of the grapes requires that the bunches which are strong in primary aromas be selected beforehand. This is a characteristic which is only found in a few vineyards of both
these subzones of the “Valtellina Superiore” area: they complement each other and strengthen this characteristic. 

CORTE DELLA MERIDIANA | VALTELLINA SUPERIORE DOCG - The vinification of this special and very elegant wine goes back to the ancient and still valid concept of the practice of “Rinforzo”. According to this wine-making tradition, which was widespread in the past in Valtellina, after the harvest, a part of the grapes is left to dry in the lofts until the end of the autumn. The remaining grapes are carefully selected and made into wine while they are fresh.

In December the grapes are pressed and added to the wine which was produced at the beginning of November. Fermentation begins again, and when it is completed the wine undergoes repeated decantations.

In the period of the waning moon in April/May the wine is removed from the large cask and is placed in “carati” (small oak casks) of 450/500 litres. Here it remains for over a year and a half, and it is regularly decanted and topped up. When this ageing in the new wood is finished, and during the period of the waning spring moon in the second year after the harvest, the wine is bottled. The bottles are stored for a period of ageing fo at least 6 months.