About Tenuta Villa Bellini
Tenuta Villa Bellini lies at Castelrotto, in the commune of San Pietro in Cariano at the heart of the Valpolicella Classica. The property is an eighteenth century estate where the vines grow among old cypresses and marogne, the dry stone walls that terrace these hills. Farming is sustainable and the cellar keeps its habits simple: spontaneous fermentations, patient aging and no rush to release. The range moves from the Valpolicella Teatrino and the superiore Tirele through the ripasso Sottolago to an Amarone raised in wooden vats and French oak.
Prices are for take away and shipping. The wine bar serves from its own list.
The winery
About Tenuta Villa Bellini
History
Tenuta Villa Bellini is a historic property on the hillside of Castelrotto in San Pietro in Cariano, in the heart of Valpolicella Classica. The villa dates to the 18th century and has been restored, with its frescoes and original architecture now open to visitors. The Decanter profile of the estate dates its modern history to 1989.
That year the estate began making wine with the wild yeasts that live on its own grapes, something many Valpolicella producers at the time viewed with suspicion. The estate says vineyard work has been organic since 1989, and one source records organic certification in 2007.
The land and the vineyards
The property covers about six hectares, four of them planted with vines. The vines grow on south facing terraces held by traditional dry stone walls called marogne, and they are trained on the pergola and on vertical espalier. Most plants are 40 to 50 years old, and some are over a hundred years old.
Old cypress trees, a pond and a spring inside a cave belong to the grounds, and a walled orchard, the Brolo, sits at the centre of the estate. Wine is made only from the estate's own grapes.
The wines
The estate makes five wines. Teatrino is the Valpolicella Classico, made by spontaneous fermentation, and Tirele is the Valpolicella Classico Superiore. Sottolago is a Ripasso, and Centenarie is an Amarone della Valpolicella Classico. A Millesimato Blanc de Noir is a sparkling wine made by the traditional method.
Each lot ferments on its own in small steel vats. Amarone is also fermented in a cone shaped wooden vat. Falstaff gave Teatrino 2023 94 points.
Today
The estate takes part in fairs such as Vinitaly and runs visits to the villa and cellars. Plans exist for a small number of guest suites on the grounds. Falstaff and Wine Idea have both written favourably about the wines, and Wine Idea praised the texture and finesse of the sparkling Blanc de Noir. The range stays small and focused, with all five wines made from the vines on the property and sold under the Villa Bellini name.
- Founded
- Modern wine history from 1989
- Area
- 6 ha estate, 4 ha vines
- Main grapes
- Corvina, Rondinella and other Valpolicella varieties