The 2023 Valpolicella Classico opens with a luminous ruby hue, inviting you into its layered aromatics. On the nose, bright red cherries and wild strawberries are joined by hints of dried herbs, sweet tobacco, and a touch of cracked black pepper. The palate is medium-bodied and precise, buoyed by vibrant acidity that keeps the fruit lifted and focused. Flavors of ripe cranberry, tart red currant, and a whisper of sour cherry are framed by supple tannins that provide structure without weight. The finish is clean, lingering with an echo of bitter cherry and soft spice, and making it super versatile at the table.
Perched in the heart of Marano di Valpolicella, the Luciano Arduini estate has been producing terroir-driven wines for over 70 years. Founded in the 1940s by Gabriele Arduini, the estate is now in the hands of Luciano and his son Andrea, who carry on the family’s passion for precision and tradition. The estate’s nine hectares are planted with Valpolicella classics — Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara — on steep, calcareous slopes that give the wines their energy and definition. Many of the vines are over 40 years old, and the team tends them with a mix of meticulous care and biodynamic respect, keeping both the grapes and the surrounding ecosystem thriving. Winemaking here is all about letting the fruit speak. Grapes are hand-harvested, fermented with native yeasts, and aged in large oak casks, producing wines that are true to the land but never heavy-handed. From their vibrant, weeknight winner Valpolicella Classico to the rich, structured Amarone, every bottle delivers a sense of place.