On the Road with the Grape Guy
The Bertani Podcast Tie-In Tasting
23 Oct 2025- Details
- Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
Recently, we sat down with Serena Bonaventura to discuss Veneto wines, and in particular Bertani wines, their history, and their outlook towards their own and the region's future. You can find that discussion here.
But there was another side: a luncheon in the spring, where Serena hosted and talked through six wines from the winery, including their hundred-point Amarone and their new Cru Valpolicella. Those who follow me regularly will know it was not the hundred-point wine that excited me—it was the idea that Valpolicella, a blended wine, would consider the idea of Cru, single vineyard, in the making of their wines. Two of those wines are below.
THE WINES
Bertani 2022 Ognisanti di Novare - Valpolicella Classico Superiore 
(95% Corvina Veronese / 5% Rondinella)
Wine spends one year in used barrels then 6 months in bottle: this is cru Valpolicella, richer red fruit, strawberry, nice spice and hints of pepper with good acidity. (**** ½)
Bertani 2024 Ripasso Valpantena
(70% Corvina / 20% Corvinone / 10% Rondinella)
Reddish and blackish fruit inter-weave with red licorice, anise, and herbal, there’s also a subtly spicy, black cherry and peppery finish - nice acidity without going over-board. (****+)
Bertani 2015 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
(80% Corvina / 20% Rondinella)
Aged 7 years in Slavonian oak … black cherry and licorice along with spices, smoke, and tobacco. Ready now or lay it down. (****+)
Bertani 2022 Le Miniere di Novare - Valpolicella Classico Superiore
(70% Corvina / 20% Corvinone / 10% Rondinella)
Super light and subtle cherry; this is easy drinking with sour cherry, and subtle pepper - this could easily be mistaken for Pinot Noir. Made using 20 year old vines, and the vineyard is situated above a mine shaft (Le Miniere), all concrete made and aged: 6-9 months, then 6 months in bottle. This is also Cru Valpolicella; and a very different expression of the wine. (****+)
Bertani 2023 Sereole Soave Classico
(Garganega)
Classico Soave, named after the plot (Sereola) - fresh and vibrant with good acidity; lemon/lime and floral - touched lightly by French oak. (****)
Bertani 2024 Valpolicella Valpantena
(80% Corvina / 20% Rondinella) 
6 months in oak / 3 months in bottle ... lots of red fruit, good acidity, red raspberry, plump strawberry; light in colour, with subtle earthy notes and a hint of balsamic and coffee on the finish. This is an every day wine, but elevated. (****)
