Part Two: Tenuta San T'Antonio

"Adventures in Wine Country" with Co-Hosts Chuck Byers and Greg Rist is a new series airing in April 2010 on CHEX Television Channel 12 Durham and the Greater Toronto Area."

Scenic Specialty
Tenuta San T'Antonio is located in one of the most scenic areas of the Valpolicella region. Four brothers Massimo, Armando, Tiziano and Paolo Castagnedi share the responsibilities for the winery which sits in what is called "Pre Alps" which refer to the foothills which escalate in height just before the Alps become more dominant somewhere near the Austrian border.
We travelled to the estate located on Via Monte Garbi, San Bricco, Mezzane di Soto which was some 90 kilometres west of Venice and 13 kilometres east of Verona. We introduced ourselves and were taken by Paulo to a very high spot a couple of miles away. Here, on the hills of between the Illisi and Mezzane Valleys, one could see the whole valley underneath. In the distance, can be seen the appellation of Soavc. On a clear day (sounds like a song) one can actually see the Appenine Mountains.
On the 50 plus acres that constitutes the Tenuta San T'Antonio Estate, the brothers meticulously grow Corvinone, Corvina, Rondinella, Croatina, Molinara and Oseleta varieties in the Mezzane Valley (They grow Garganega and Soave Trebbiano in the Illisi Valley).
The estates is very well kept and a "green" philosophy is used throughout.
Just before we were to taste their wines we met Aldo Steccanella the representative of the estate.
Wines
Tenuta San T'Antonio Monti Garbi Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso:
Named after the hill that it is located on, this delicious wine was made from Corvina, Corvinone, Rodinella, Molinara, Croatina and Oseleta grapes. By law, the last three could only make up a much smaller percentage of the wine with the first three varieties being the highest.
Colour: Red (ruby)
Nose: Red Cherry with a touch of vanilla spice.
Palate: Approachable, soft and velvety with cherry notes and a slight pepper/vanilla finish.

La Bandina,Valpollicella Superiore:
This the grapes of this wine (about the same as the last minus the Corvinone, Molinara) were aged aged from 2weeks to a month and then fermented for a long period with eventual 24 months in 500 litre French Oak barrels. The resulting wine is special.
Colour: Intense dark red
Nose: Cherry/black cherry, liquorice, tobacco/leather, cedar.
Palate: Powerful, yet soft. Intense cherry and berry flavours. Anise/pepper finish.

Campo ei Gigli, Amarone
Made from 7o% Corvina, Corvinone 20% Rondinella and 10% Oseleta/Croatina.
Colour: Dark Red
Nose: There is no mistake about the black fruit in this wine. Blackberry/cherry with other wild fruits thrown in. black pepper, anise and tobacco.
Palate: Soft but not weak. A wine for aging. Black fruit, pepper with a firm tannic structure clearly integrated and balanced. Young with a long life.

Dinner
The Trattoria Tomasi Enoteca in Vago di Lavagno was the site of the repas. Our host Armando provided good clues to what we should eat along with the wines. Also present was Aldo Steccanella, the estates' representative in Italy.
The dinner was super with a starter of Soave (a delicious white) and Prosciutto. The meal then followed in this order:
Wild Mushrooms and Pplenmta ( love mushroom dishes and this one was to die for!)
Grilled Vegetables, beans and onions.
Steak "Florentine" a huge---I mean huge---T;Bone steak cut up in strips (cooked "blue" which means almost raw!)
Coffee/dessert
Thje wines, especially the Amarone melded well with the steak but almost any of the reds would have gone with the meal. Nice wine, nice venu and certainly great people.
End of Day Four.