Quintarelli Giuseppe
This historic Veneto estate dates back to 1924, but the current success of the property is largely due to Giuseppe Quintarelli who insisted on pursuing high quality traditional methods while most of his neighbours converted to mass-scale production. Today the estate which bears his name has a global reputation for exceptionally complex Amarone wines which age for years in Slavonian oak.
Quintarelli Giuseppe is now in the hands of Giuseppe’s daughter Fiorenza, his son-in-law Giampaolo, and his grandsons Francesco and Lorenzo who have worked hard to preserve many of the founder’s traditions while also ensuring the estate keeps up with the times. One moving connection with the past is the charming labels which mimic old-fashioned handwriting and remind of the artisanal nature of these exquisite wines.
The family also show great care and dedication to their vineyards where every vintage the harvest is carried out with several passes through the vines to ensure the fruit is harvested at optimal ripeness. In keeping with the traditional winemaking practices of the region, many of their wines are crafted using the appassimento technique of drying the grapes on straw mats to concentrate the flavours and sugars.
As well as the line of traditional Amarone wines, the estate has also embraced innovation and grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot as well as the region’s indigenous varieties. One excellent example is the Alzero which is crafted from Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc with a touch of Merlot. As with their Amarone, the grapes are carefully dried with the appassimento technique to produce a very intense, full-bodied style of wine.
The wines of Quintarelli Giuseppe rank amongst Veneto’s finest and make an excellent addition to any serious collector’s cellar. They are also proving their worth on the investment market, with the Quintarelli Alzero 2007 showing impressive growth of 31.2% over the past two years.