Many
generations of the Tedeschi family have faithfully dedicated their energy
and enthusiasm to the field of wine growing and producing in the Valpolicella
area; this provides the present generation with an enviable background
of experience, tradition and nobility, and helps them increase in specialisation
and quality.
According to historcal research, the first deed purchasing vineyards
was stipulated in 1630. Since then the descendants of the family have
succeeded one another, gradually bringing prestige, respect and esteem
to their family, so much so that they were called upon to fill important
public and religious roles.
However, vineyards and wine have remained their pride and true purpose
in life.
From Nicolò, a well-recorded character in terms of his personality
and physique, to Lorenzo, known as “damigiana”, because he
transported his wines in demijohns (‘damigiane’ in Italian)
on his cart, to Riccardo, a patriarch who was well-known throughout the
whole town of Pedemonte and who purchased two genuine gems in 1918: the
vineyards of Monte Fontana and Monte Olmi.
From Riccardo the vineyard passed to his sons, Silvino, who cultivated
the vineyard, and Renzo who has succeeded in taking the Tedeschi firm
to its current prestigious position at national and international level.
Renzo is an unpretentious wine-maker, who respects nature and its laws,
the miracles of light, the sun, the waxing and waning of the moon, the
“cru”, the rules of wine-making, the incomparable freshness
of young wines and the correct maturity of old wines.
For Renzo one’s roots are important: from his own he has learnt
the “Tedeschi style”, a way of life which extends to involve
its wines. To this he has added modern and practial techniques which have
made his products even more refined and prestigious.
Prestigious awards (from local prizes to the “International Wine
Challenge 1987” in London, which judged the Tedeschi Recioto Monte
Fontana DOC 1981 to be one of the six best wines in the world and to the
subsequent trophy at the “International Wine Challenge 1994, which
rated Amarone Capitel Monte Olmi 1988 as the best full-bodied red wine)
are the results of this uninterrupted policy of personal growth.
Today Renzo is helped by his children Antonietta, Riccardo and
Sabrina.
Together they are concentrating on the future without turning their backs
on tradition: they are developing modern techniques which seek to help
rather than replace nature.
They seek the individual character of each wine, and perhaps more importantly
the “typical personality” which distinguishes wine that carries
the “Tedeschi” label, a label which guarantees not only quality,
but also the constancy of product characteristics.
The greatest care is naturally paid to the raw material: grapes.
In the future the firm will continue to favour local grape varieties:
Corvina, Rondinella, Corvinone and Oseleta, not forgetting Molinara, Dindarella
and Negrara.
The objective has always been to obtain wines with body, bouquet and structure,
but above all wines which are elegant and well-balanced. The company’s
philosophy is founded on continuous innovation in order to promote quality,
without however departing from traditions.
Renzo and his family operate within their wine-making niche, with the
determination never to betray the faith of consumers.
GRAPE-GROWING AND PRODUCTION
The Tedeschi Estate winemaking technique is based on tradition methods
combined with modern technology.
Vineyards are located in the hills of Valpolicella Classica.
The Tedeschi Estate cultivates the following varieties in Valpolicella:
Corvina
Veronese
Small, pyramid-shaped, compact bunches with asymmetrical
branches. The grape is an elliptical sphere with a glaucous blue-violet
skin. It can be attacked by botrytis. This grape gives a lively
red coloured wine with a taste of cherries and raspberries. It has
an excellent, complex and elegant structure.
Corvinone
Large, compact and pyramid-shaped bunches with two
wings. The grape is large, has an elliptical shape and a glaucous
and thick blue-violet skin. It is even more subject to attack by
botrytis than Corvina. It gives a lively red colored wine, rich,
velvet-smooth and intensely fruity if the grapes come from a hillside.
Rondinella
Compact cylindrical-pyramidal bunch with a single
wing. The grape is round with a thick blue-violet skin. This grape
resists diseases and is suited to drying. It gives a lively red-colored
wine with notes of cherry and berries and good acidity.
Molinara
This has a medium large cylindrical bunch with wings.
It has medium size round grapes, glaucous and pinkish in color.
It is extremely resistant to mold. It gives a very pleasing light
rosé wine, with medium life span. It is suited for producing
vintage Classic Valpolicella.
Other minor varieties, traditionally used, also go into the production
of Verona's typical wines: Dindarella, Negrara, Rossignola, Oseleta, Forselina.
Furthermore, in recent years, a parcel of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes have
been planted on the flat land, and contributes well to the other varieties
of the Rosso la Fabriseria area.
Vineyards
are at an altitude ranging from 130 to 250 meters above sea level. They
are exposed South South-West. Terrain is of moraine origins (glacial debris)
except for a small volcanic part in the hills of Negrar exposed to the
East. Terrain is generally limestone with good structure and rich in clay.
Vineyards generally have 2000-2500 vines per hectare in the hillside zones
and 3000 vines on the plains. These concentrations produce vines with
medium vigor which is the best suited for the terrain and for the wines
from this winemaking area.
The vine-training systems used are those known as espalier and trentin
bower, which ensure the maximum exposure to the light. The supports are
constructed in chestnut wood and cement, intertwined with iron wire. Production
of good quality grapes, suitable for Recioto, is obtained after about
six to seven years from planting and improves, in relation to the conditions,
as the vines begin to age.
Vines are grafted on 420A stocks which maintain the vigor of the vine
from the time the fruit darkens up until it is harvested. It also ensures
that the majority of sugars accumulate in the fruit rather than the plant.
Medium pruning (14-18 buds per vine) favours the right quality/quantity
ratio.
The current trend is to keep terrain free of grasses in order to reduce
an excessive growth by the vine.
Fertilization calls for spreading organic substance on the terrain every
three years.
Current procedures in the phyto-pathological sector are based on use of
copper sulfate which is best for obtaining grapes with very strong skins.
This also ensures better drying of the grapes. Biodynamic or organic methods
are not to be excluded in the future.
Tedeschi, 1999 Amarone della
Valpolicella Classico Capitel Monte Olmi 94 Points click her for
more info...
Tedeschi, 2000 Recioto della Valpolicella Classico Capitel Monte Fontana 93 Points click her for more info...
2006 WINES OF ITALY GUIDE
“GAMBERO ROSSO AND SLOW FOOD” EDITORS: THE CAPITEL MONTE
OLMI AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA DOC CLASSICO 2001HAS OBTAINEDTHREE GLASSES click here for
more info...
2001 Tedeschi Amarone della
Valpolicella Classico Capitel Monte Olmi 90
Points
2003 Tedeschi Capitel Monte Fontana Recioto della Valpolicella Classico
89 Points
Many
generations of the Tedeschi family have faithfully dedicated their energy
and enthusiasm to the field of wine growing and producing in the Valpolicella
area; this provides the present generation with an enviable background
of experience, tradition and nobility, and helps them increase in specialisation
and quality.
Vineyards
are at an altitude ranging from 130 to 250 meters above sea level. They
are exposed South South-West. Terrain is of moraine origins (glacial debris)
except for a small volcanic part in the hills of Negrar exposed to the
East. Terrain is generally limestone with good structure and rich in clay.
