I Stefanini

VENETO Soave

http://www.istefanini.it/indexeng.html

Francesco was born in 1981, part of a family who managed vineyards for generations – since the 1800s in fact. He was in love with tractors, nature and animals from a young age which continued through his studies at the Agrarian Institute, and followed his father’s footsteps. He studied enology at the University of Padua in 2000 and with his family started their winery in 2003 as head winemaker along with his father Valentino as vineyard manager. They are I Stefanini (the Stefaninis) – after an ancestor/winemaker Stefano Tessari who was experimenting with viticulture in 1800.

I Stefanini covers 20 hectares of fertile growing volcanic soil in the cold-climate region of Valle d’Alpone, a Verona river valley rich in fossil deposits on the east end of Soave. Head winemaker and owner Francesco Tessari works with his father, vineyard manager Valentino Tessari. Their primary focus is to cultivate the vines with maximum respect and care for the land in order to bring maximum quality to the fruit and ultimately to the wine.

The Stefanini wines, in accordance with traditional winemaking techniques of Soave, are not aged in oak barrels, but in carefully lined tanks made of stainless steel. Francesco Tessari is totally focused on producing a high quality Soave wine, capable of offering a rich fleshiness without losing its drinkability or fragrance. He effectively controls yields in the vineyard, even for his simplest wines to produce a fresh and fruity wine, which continues to gain top scores in all major wine guides and current reviews.

Beverly’s note: What struck me immediately about the wines is the clear terroir message present in each one. They are not only distinct as a group but each one tells its own story. The packaging pays homage to the history of the vineyards as well showing a family that is respectful of their heritage.

I STEFANINI	VENETO Soave
Garganega IGT	Mouthwatering – beautiful balance between fruit and acid; a seemingly simple wine that way overdelivers
Soave DOC “Il Selese”	Very distinctive minerality; elderberry, hawthorn, stone fruit (apricot?); single vineyard “where wheat is harvested.” Perfect Sunday to Thursday!
Soave DOC Classico “Monte de Toni”	Volcanic red soil, high in iron oxide; 5 months sur lies. Rocks and Melons! Soave like no other.
Soave DOC Classico Superiore “Monte di Fice”	Volcanic tuffaceous soil, peach, dry apricot, brown spice, hint of almond. Excellent bones, loooong finish