In Verona they call you “Maturlan” when you behave like a fool, as the funniest costume of the traditional carnival, the “Baron Maturlan”. Santa Sofia engages with a fun and easy-going wine but with the quality of all time.
Santa Sofia in Valpolicella has always been synonymous with quality and great wines symbol of the local tradition. Wines that tell two centuries of excellence. The Santa Sofia winery was born in 1811 in Pedemonte, one of the most suggestive areas of Valpolicella, in a Palladian villa registered since 1996 on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and has become the symbol of the company. And it must be said that the oenological traditions of the place date back to far more remote times: part of the ancient cellars that are located under the villa, which can still be visited today, were used for the aging of wines as early as the 14th and 15th centuries. The oldest part of the cellar was built by the friars of San Bernardino in 1300, when they also erected the chapel dedicated to Santa Sofia. Today, and for 50 years now, Giancarlo Begnoni – winemaker and sommelier – and his son Luciano (from abstainer to wine specialist) are at the helm. They have chosen to restore a strong identity to the company by focusing on high quality labels and on the international market but above all by working hand in hand with the protagonists of their territory, choosing and selecting the best together with those who work the land and grow grapes. The Begnoni family has thus triggered a virtuous micro-system made up of regular encounters, seasons
that pass as mutual trust and the desire to make an authentic, high-quality wine grow that reflects the values of its territory: uniqueness, longevity and sumptuousness. Famous are their Amarone and the award-winning Amarone reserve “Gioè”, a name that indicates the upper part of Monte Gradella, where there is the historic vineyard from which the Santa Sofia grapes come. But in the cellars of the most renowned restaurants in Italy and in the world, other references also find a place of honor: from Valpolicella Superiore Montegradella to Valpolicella Ripasso, from Bardolino to Soave to Merlot Corvina and Recioto della Valpolicella Classico, just to name a few. And then there is El Maturlan, a pleasant combination of Corvina (60%) with light drying of about 40 days and other autochthonous red berry varieties (40%), aged in Slavonian oak barrels for about 12 months before to spend at least 3 months in the bottle. A playful, soft, lively and fun wine, intense ruby with violet reflections. The nose presents hints of ripe fruit and spicy notes, with hints of violet and mint. On the palate El Maturlan has an elegant and enveloping character. Full-bodied, intense and persistent, it has a longevity of over 5 years and should be served at 14-16 ° C. in combination with semi-mature cheeses and red meats, but also with spicy foods. (santasofia.com).
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