Sited in the Mazzano district of the Classico area and between 350 and 450 metres up the hill, the Viviani family have an enviable Valpolicella holding. They exploit it wonderfully, producing everything valpol from the most fun `normale` quaffer to the most contemplative of Amarone and Recioto. All the vineyards have a south easterly aspect and the farming methods left synthetic inputs behind long ago. In fact their altitude and aspect are optimum for grape growing and the wines prove that. Vines have a good spread of ages from 20 to 60 years old and the attention to detail - and a strong sense of what they want to achieve - shows in the wines. They are all delicious on their own, but accompany the `bollito misto`, the rabbit and even the asino of local cooking. Plus they go a long way to making polenta palatable. (CW 09/07/14)