2023 Tenuta Santa Maria - Veronese Rosso IGT Pragal (750ml)

Tenuta Santa Maria is the Bertani family's historic estate at Arbizzano di Negrar, in the heart of Valpolicella Classica, where six generations of the same family have refined their approach to winemaking over roughly five hundred years. Around 1800 the family developed the high-density, low-yield vineyard practices they still rely on today for both their native Veronese varieties and their international plantings. The estate blends centuries of tradition with ongoing experimentation, farming sustainably across its vineyards in Negrar and Colognola ai Colli.

Pràgal is a blend of Corvina, Merlot, and Syrah, released as a Veronese Rosso IGT rather than under the stricter Valpolicella DOC, which gives the winemakers more freedom in grape selection and technique. The Corvina comes from terraced, southeast-facing vineyards in the Negrar valley, planted on calcareous, clay-rich soil between 120 and 220 meters, while the Merlot and Syrah are grown in the alluvial, limestone-and-river-stone soils of the Illasi valley floor. Part of the harvest is vinified fresh and part is partially dried before a long maceration, and the finished wine ages in large oak barrels for about six months.

The wine shows deep ruby color with garnet and violet reflections, and its bouquet mixes red fruit preserves, dried rose, and black cherry with darker notes of tobacco, black pepper, and baking spice. On the palate it is warm and round, with soft tannins and bright acidity carrying a long, savory finish. It pairs well with red meats, aged cheeses, and traditional Italian dishes.