Contrada Palui, Valpolicella Superiore "Campo Selce" Veneto, Italy 2020

Hilltop Valpolicella from Clay Amphorae. Originally from Alto Adige, Hannes Pichler moved to Valpolicella a decade ago to farm a 3-hectare abandoned cow pasture on top of a hill east of Negrar, at between 500-550 meters, the highest elevation of the DOC. 

With an outsider’s fresh approach, Hannes planted a selection of Corvina, Rondinella, and Corvinone, specifically avoiding the Bordelaise varieties that he says almost everyone in the region uses today. Blessed with a unique terroir that has a mix of white limestone, black basalt, and sharp flint, Hannes planted onto hay meadows in their natural state and is deeply passionate about organic farming.

Hannes sources two kinds of clay amphora to raise his wines in: some made of red clay without the iron removed, and others of white clay without iron. He uses half the amount of SO2 allowed in organic wine. His immaculate cellar is crammed with a mix of older demi-muids and oval barrels. His tiny production pursues two distinct styles, one using dried grapes, and one without. Both are a radical departure from typical Valpolicella but both utterly delicious, aromatic, and refreshing.