All the varieties of Valpolicella  

The valley of many cellars reveals its secrets 

Corte Sant'Alda is Marinella's enterprise and she farms biodynamically to both protect the environment and to make intense but fresh and drinkable wines. Adalia is farmed organically; the intention here is to combine the healthiest possible farming together with affordability. Marinella considers biodynamics as the gold standard in both the vineyard and cellar but this is an expensive method of farming; Adalia was set up with her daughter to provide great wine at a good price.

The farm buzzes with life. Marinella works with nature and puts up with the criticism of the appearance of her vineyards from more chemically inclined neighbours. As she acknowledges a little ruefully - 'It is true, the grass in our vineyards is a bit too high, but for me this is a sign of life. You can see colours, smell scents… of mint, arugula, chamomile. I can't believe that all this would be dangerous for the vines. A tidy grassland is more an aesthetic need than a real necessity.'

But come and taste for yourself. Valpolicella is an unacknowledged region of versatile wines crafted from the three local varieties of Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara as well as the less well known Croatina and Rossara, planted on red and brown soils over basalt and limestone. The climate here is a temperate Mediterranean with adequate rainfall most years, while the altitude ranges between 100 and 700 metres. It has been a crucial winegrowing region for thousands of years and Marinella is the current steward of both land and culture. Come and meet her between 12 and 2:30 today and taste with us. /CW 

Marinella will show:

2015 Adalia Valpolicella DOC