Experiences
Places, stories, tastings, pairings: these are just some of the evocative areas that can open up to those who want to get to know Valpantena. Discover them in our story.
In Valpantena, the finest vineyards are located on the “costa” – but that doesn’t mean the seacoast. Here by “costa” we mean the side of a hill. And here, everyone has always considered us to be “the costa” par excellence of the valley.
Valpolicella grapes are unmistakable: you can recognize them immediately by the color of the berries. Corvina grapes and Rondinella grapes: dark as the feathers of swallows and crows.
Valpantena, a land of wines and brigands. The most famous of these is the legendary Falasco, who terrorized the Grezzana area and whose hideout was a small tower in the valley.
Giving a bottle of Amarone as a gift is always an excellent choice. But the best choice is definitely to give it to yourself. Drink it also on its own, as a meditation wine, accompanied by thoughts and reflections.
The cross at the entrance to the estate has an unusual history. It is the Cross of Lorraine, which has a second horizontal bar added to the main one. It is a symbol of the agricultural history of Costa Arente and a reminder of when Valpantena belonged to the Republic of Venice.
Ripasso della Valpolicella DOC is a process wine because its vinification requires several steps. It is obtained by taking the Valpolicella base and “passing it over” the Amarone pomace, from which it inherits part of the alcohol content and the most intense aromas. This is why we call it Amarone’s “little brother.”
The breezes of the Lessini Mountains meet the marly soil on the hills of Valpantena. Here the terroir reaches its highest peaks. Costa Arente is situated at well over 250 meters above sea level.
The Latins would say nomen omen, meaning one’s fate is written in their name. Amarone means “very bitter,” to distinguish this wine from the sweet wines in the area. An augmentative in which was already written the greatness that everyone recognizes today.
Those who have already tasted Amarone on its own, not with a meal, know what it means. For those who haven’t, we suggest that you accompany it the first time with pleasant conversation or a good book: for example a novel by Hemingway, a great lover of this wine. This is truly a meditation wine.
The wooden casks in the cellar at Costa Arente hold more than just our wine: they preserve our history. They can’t say it in words, but just by visiting us you can touch that history with your hand.
Verona has one of the oldest carnival celebrations in Italy, with a very special costume: the papà del gnoco (Father Dumpling). It was inspired by a wealthy townsman in the Middle Ages, who during a severe famine had gnocchi (potato dumplings) prepared and handed out at his own expense to feed all the townspeople.
From Negrar and its historic villas to San Giorgio, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, passing among places of art, natural oases and expanses of vineyards. Valpolicella will welcome you in so many ways that every time it will convince you to come back.
Not all dishes can tame the power of Amarone. Game and braised meats, stews and roast meats will definitely be able to hold their own with it. Or you can surprise it with a mixed grill or Venetian liver: bold pairing, but highly recommended.
Knowing which course to pair with Amarone is always a dilemma. We solve it by drinking it at the end of the meal with a hearty, aged and even spicy cheese. A Monte Veronese or a 36-month-old Grana Padano are the “perfect match.”