He’s a son with a kind nature, who has grown up and now he is trying to understand his evolution, as he embodies the winery’s history and represents his territory. The #Humanwine project met Leonildo Pieropan, of Pieropan winery – winegrowers since 1880, at the independent winegrowers market FIVI in Piacenza where he presented the Calvarino Soave Classico Doc. We earnt a piece of Soave history.
The Calvarino wine takes its name from a vineyard located in the heart of the Soave Classico area, that is the ancient cornerstone of the family’s vineyards bought in 1901. It means ‘little Calvary’ and it refers to the difficulties in working the land and the winding path that leads to the vineyard. The first wine label was released back in 1971 and this wine is a perfect and faithful example of the Soave style.
Calvarino Soave Classico DOC is made with Garganega (70%) and Trebbiano di Soave (30%) grapes from vines that are 30 to 60 years old and grow on the hills of the Soave Classico region. This area is characterized by volcanic soil rich in basalt and tuff with ocean origin and it stretches at an altitude of 200-300 meters above sea level facing north-west.
Pieropan winery has a certified organic production. The harvest is hand-picked, often in two subsequent steps, in order to select the ripest grapes. Picking begins in mid-September for the Trebbiano di Soave grape and in October for the Garganega grape.
The Calvarino wine color is pale straw-yellow, with bright greenish hues when young and golden hues when aged. The aroma is fresh and flowery with hints of elderberry, limoncella
apple, pear on a hazelnut and almond background. On the palate it is dry, fresh, flavorful, elegant with a long lasting and persistent limoncella apple after.
The wine ages in glass-lined cement tanks for a year. During this period, it remains in contact with the fine lees for increased richness and complexity. After bottling, it ages slowly in bottles for a few months before release.
As for serving suggestions, the Calvarino wine makes an excellent aperitif and it matches a wide range of dishes, especially vegetable quiches, delicate fish, shellfish and cheese soufflés, and it is perfect with the risotto with asparagus, the typical Verona dish.
The Pieropan winery is located in the heart of the medieval town of Soave, in the province of Verona, Veneto region, in the historical Palazzo Pullici where four generations of winegrowers have succeeded since 1880, each one providing its own contribution which varied according to the period, knowledge and entrepreneurial attitude.
The wine business started with Leonildo, a physician in the town of Soave, who exploited his knowledge of biology and chemistry and began to work in the family vineyards and in the cellars. Afterwards the winery was run with passion by his sons, Fausto and Gustavo, until the present days, when their grandson Leonildo took over and innovated the wine company. With his unique style, vocation and commitment, Leonildo focused on the vineyard and the research for quality excellence and he introduced innovative vinification processes. Now his wife Teresita and his sons, Andrea (agronomist) and Dario (oenologist) are pursuing with unchanged passion the heritage and the path started by Leonildo.
