Valpolicella Classico - Paolo Cottini

Paolo Cottini’s Valpolicella Classico DOC is the wine that tells the story of Valpolicella in the most direct and authentic way possible - without drying the grapes, secondary fermentation or oak: just Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella grapes from the Classica area, vinified with respect and enjoyed young, as they were on Verona’s farms before the market imposed its race for power and concentration.

Paolo Cottini is a small artisan producer in the Valpolicella Classica who tends his own vineyards with family dedication, producing a consistent range that runs from the entry-level Classico to Ripasso - two sides of the same territory, two different interpretations of the same grapes. The Classico is the everyday table wine, the kind Verona’s farmers would pour into a carafe every evening - but in the hands of a serious producer, it becomes something more: a characterful, fresh and easy-drinking red that respects its territory without trying to impress with artificial structure or concentration.

The winemaking is simple and respectful: fermentation with brief skin maceration to extract colour and aromas without excessive tannins, no oak, and a short ageing period in stainless steel to preserve all the freshness of the grapes. The colour is bright, luminous ruby red. On the nose, it is fragrant and inviting: fresh cherry, raspberry, blackberry, red flowers and a hint of the herbal character typical of high-quality young Corvina. On the palate, it is light, fresh and almost thirst-quenching - with barely perceptible tannins, lively acidity and a clean, short finish of fresh red fruit. A wine to open straight away, without overthinking it, and serve slightly chilled at 14-16°C.

The Valpolicella Classico that proves wine doesn’t always have to be powerful to be good.