Piccola Peste Rosso Veronese IGT 2019

Country: Italy

Region: Valpolicella

Grape:  Corvina 60%, Molinara 10%, Rondinella 30%

Volume: 75cl

ABV: 11.5%

Vintage: 2019

Suitable for Vegans: Yes 

Suitable for Vegetarians: Yes

Food pairing: Go traditional here with Northern Italian salami or a simple tomato and balsamic bruschetta.

Terre di Pietra is a relatively recent winery, based in the eastern section of the Valpolicella region. It started off in 2005 when a talented, passionate woman, Laura Albertini, just 25 years old, was given a bit of garage space at her father-in-law’s house in which she could make wine. Her own father had pushed her into a degree in chartered accounting and wanted her to lead a ‘conventional’ life. She, however, had her own mind. It took 5 years to convince her father but finally, in 2010, construction started on a fully equipped winery. The first vintage at this new magnificent winery in Marcellise was in 2011. She was widely touted as one of Valpolicella’s upcoming winemakers to watch. Their vineyards, some 4 hectares, are located in 5 small hillside plots ranging from 200 to 600 meters above sea level. The historic area is characterized by very dark soils rich in sedimentary stones, hence the name Terre di Pietra (Stone soils). In the Marcellise area the land is rich in white limestone. Both soils are very poor and this results in low yields and wines with rich tannins and good acidity. Right from the start they believed in clean and environmentally friendly agriculture. In 2011 they decided to take a step further and started their first experiments in biodynamic farming. It has been an ongoing challenge, full of trials but also satisfactions. All winery operations are still done by hand. From 2011 they also started to abandon all of modern enology’s interventions, to reach completely natural wines.