TENUTA SANTA MARIA AT VINITALY 2026: BETWEEN WINE HERITAGE AND A CONTEMPORARY VISION

At Vinitaly 2026, Tenuta Santa Maria confirms its presence as a benchmark of Valpolicella Classica, bringing a selection of its most representative labels for tasting, including the Brolo dei Poeti Amarone Classico Riserva DOCG , an emblem of the winery's vision.

Located in the heart of the Valpolicella Classica region, the birthplace of Amarone, Tenuta Santa Maria is a historic 18th-century neoclassical estate, originally conceived for the production of fine wines. Today, it is recognized as one of the region's most important estates, where viticulture, winery, architecture, and landscape coexist in a unified project.

The recent history of Tenuta Santa Maria is closely linked to Gaetano Bertani, widely recognized as one of the fathers of modern Amarone. Since the early 2000s, drawing on his extensive experience, he has pursued and consolidated a contemporary winemaking vision, focused on elegance, balance, and the production of dry wines with great structure and remarkable longevity.

A style that has played a decisive role in defining an advanced and more contemporary interpretation of Amarone, still a point of reference for the winery today.

Alongside tradition, Tenuta Santa Maria pursues a rigorous artisanal approach , based on complete control of the production chain. All grapes come exclusively from estate-owned vineyards, cultivated with respect for the terroir. Only those destined for Amarone Riserva and Recioto are subjected to a completely natural drying process in historic drying rooms, on cane racks with spontaneous ventilation, according to a method now unique in the Valpolicella region.

The meticulous care of the vineyard, the meticulous work in the fields , and the dedicated micro-vinifications are the foundation not only of this wine, but of the estate's entire production. Tenuta Santa Maria's craftsmanship is reflected in all its labels and permeates every stage of the production process, from vineyard to bottle. The preservation of increasingly rare practices expresses a strong stylistic identity , carried forward by Giovanni and Guglielmo Bertani as the legacy of a method based on detail and a profound knowledge of the terroir.

An approach geared exclusively to the highest level of quality , which over time has defined a precise and recognizable style. This vision has led Tenuta Santa Maria wines to a drier and more measured tasting profile than average, characterized by freshness, verticality, and balanced acidity— elements that support their ability to evolve and enhance their elegance.

It is within this approach that Brolo dei Poeti takes shape, produced only in the most suitable vintages. The Corvina grapes, sourced from an exclusive Tenuta Santa Maria clone selected from the vineyard's finest historic vines through mass selection, along with Corvinone and Rondinella, come from vineyard parcels averaging 35 years old. The vines are Guyot-trained and located in the historic brolo of the Arbizzano di Negrar estate: a vineyard enclosed by ancient stone walls, traditionally reserved for the production of the most prestigious wines. This model recalls the tradition of the great Burgundian crus, where the defined vineyard becomes a synthesis of terroir, microclimate, and human expertise.

From these grapes comes a wine that follows a production process marked by rigor and respect for time: natural drying, lasting approximately three months, takes place on traditional racks, followed by separate fermentation and maceration in stainless steel for 30–35 days, designed to preserve aromatic integrity and precise extraction. The wine then undergoes a very lengthy aging process of 14 years in large Slavonian oak barrels , followed by blending in concrete vats and a further aging in bottle for at least 12 months.

The name Brolo dei Poeti (Poets' Brolo) underscores this profound connection between place, time, and culture. In the 18th century, Ippolito Pindemonte , a Veronese poet and intellectual, frequented these places, finding in the estate's brolo and gardens a space for contemplation and study. Pindemonte is also known for having translated parts of Virgil's Georgics into Italian, a poem that celebrates agricultural labor, the harmonious relationship between man and nature, and the value of time: the same themes that today find echoes in the production philosophy of Tenuta Santa Maria and in the profound character of this Amarone.

Brolo dei Poeti thus represents the mature synthesis of Tenuta Santa Maria's vision: winemaking heritage, an artisanal approach , and sustainable practices. An Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva designed for a long evolution and to showcase, at Vinitaly 2026 ( Hall 5 – Stand E7 ), a concept of wine founded on rigor, authenticity, and a deep connection to the territory.