Speri - Valpolicella Superiore S.Urbano 2006 Ml. 750

The company's history began in the first half of the nineteenth century, with just a few hectares next to the Speris' family home.
Over the course of the years, the company has invested in new properties in the top-quality areas of Valpolicella Classica, so that it now owns 60 hectares. Times have changed and the company has grown, but it still remains in the hands of the family, which can now boast of being in its seventh generation.
All the estates owned by the company are within the Valpolicella Classica (historical zone), in the best wine country, at a height ranging from 150 to 350 metres with a considerable variety of terrain and microclimates.
In order to best represent these micro-zones, the grapes coming from our most important vineyards are made separately into wine, creating prestigious single vineyard wines which are named after their vineyard of origin.
The hillside vines are cultivated on terraces formed by dry stone walls also known in Italian as marogne. These, as well as being a valuable tool to improve hillside cultivation, have an historical value. For this reason, by conserving them, we can say we have made a small contribution to the enrichment of the land.
Speri uses only grapes from the Valpolicella zone to make its wines. In addition to the three traditional grape varieties, Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara, small quantities of other lesser known but long-standing varieties are used like Oseleta, Rossanella, Pelara, Cabrosina, etc.
The Corvina is considered the most important vine variety due to its tannin content and pigments. It imparts fruity aromas, particularly when it is cultivated on the hills.
The Rondinella is able to adapt to many types of terrain, to withstand drought and lends itself quite well to drying. It is vigorous and very prolific.
The Molinara is mainly used for the distinctive flavour and crispness it gives the wine.
Organic Certification
Based on the conviction that a wine's quality is determined in the vineyard, Speri Viticoltori has committed itself over the years to preserving and promoting the fertility of the land while growing exclusively local grapes and preventing some historic varietals from extinction.
Also, in the hillside vineyards they have maintained the marogne, the historic stone walls, in order to preserve the balance of the land.
After many years of sustainable agriculture the 2015 vintage will obtain organic certification. The ultimate goal is getting as close as possible to a naturally balanced agricultural ecosystem by implementing practices that combine a knowledge of ecology, plant physiology, biochemistry and insect behavior. Examples are leaving permanent grass over the entire vineyard area (thus ensuring the presence of organic substances), and composting the residues from pruning and vinification, that restores part of its by-products into the environment. Another important practice is to control the main insect that does harm to the vines, the European grapevine moth, by means of the modern technique of sexual confusion.
Ripasso
This wine is produced using the RIPASSO technique, which is intentionally more restrictively applied in relation to the standard production method. The wine is obtained by going over again , once only, the premium Valpolicella Classico over a small quantity of Amarone marc.
As a result, an authentic local wine is produced which elegantly exhibits a delightfully complex fruity aroma and spicy tones complemented with a good acidity and just the right alcohol content.
These are vineyards situated in the heart of the Valpolicella Classica, more specifically in the municipalities of San Pietro in Cariano, Fumane and Negrar and are at between 120 and 350 above sea level.
The soil is varied, mainly chalky-clay and alluvial in origin. It is naturally very fertile and rich in mineral salts.