Tenuta Scajari Le Mattoline Valpolicella Superiore D.O.C.

Gini

Tenuta Scajari Le Mattoline Valpolicella Superiore D.O.C.

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$60.00 $80.00/L

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The Product in Brief:

✓ Grapes: Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Oseleta

✓ Vintage: 2021

✓ Vineyards managed under certified organic farming.

✓ Ageing: approx. 2 years on the lees in 25 hl French oak casks + 1 year in stainless steel + at least 6 months in bottle, without filtration

✓ Profile: elegant and harmonious, with notes of ripe red fruit, cherry, pepper, liquorice and spicy nuances. A wine suited to long ageing.

✓ Alcohol content: 14,5%

Scheda Produttore PDF

Le Mattoline Valpolicella Superiore D.O.C. by Gini comes from the hills of Campiano (VR), in the municipality of Cazzano di Tramigna, in the upper eastern Valpolicella. Here, between 400 and 600 metres above sea level, the Gini family gave life to the Tenuta Scajari project, bringing to the Valpolicella the same search for authenticity and the same deep bond with the land that have shaped their work in Soave Classico for generations. It is an upland setting still intact, where woods, cherry trees, olive groves and vineyards live side by side in a natural balance particularly favourable to the vine. Constant ventilation, excellent sun exposure and marked day-night temperature swings accompany a slow, even ripening of the grapes, helping to preserve their freshness and aromatic precision.

These hills are shaped above all by clay-limestone soils, rich in red limestone (scaglia rossa) and volcanic components. The name Scajari derives from the dialect word scaja, used for the small yellow-red limestone flakes produced by the slow break-up of the layered rock in the subsoil. Volcanic lapilli complete a complex geological matrix that contributes to the structure, the elegance and the recognisable mineral character of the wines from this part of the Valpolicella. The name Le Mattoline, instead, recalls the morning larks that nest in these unspoilt places and has become a symbol of the biodiversity surrounding the vineyards. An image that also describes the character of the wine well: an elegant, harmonious and dynamic Valpolicella Superiore, in which intensity and structure find their balance in freshness and mineral character.

In the glass it shows an intense, clear ruby red colour. On the nose it offers a complex, fine profile, in which hints of ripe red fruit and cherry emerge first, followed by notes of pepper, liquorice and spices. On the palate it is soft and elegant, supported by good acidity and a pleasant mineral imprint. The finish is clean and persistent, with structure and depth that also sustain its ability to evolve over the years.

Product Sheet:

Grape variety: Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Oseleta

Production area: Tenuta Scajari stands on the hills of eastern Valpolicella (VR), between Campiano and Monte Mirabello, at 400-600 metres above sea level, set in a unique natural environment with views over the Castello di Illasi and Monte Baldo.

Altitude: between 400 and 600 metres.

Soil characteristics: clay-limestone soils marked by the presence of red limestone, formed by the slow break-up of the layered rock in the subsoil, and enriched by volcanic components and lapilli. These clay soils with volcanic outcrops and the ideal microclimate encourage a slow ripening of the grapes, ensuring wines of great quality and character.

Exposure: the south and south-west exposure ensures excellent ripening of the grapes, while the day-night temperature swings preserve aromas, freshness and acidity. Constant ventilation keeps the grapes healthy and allows a natural drying in the loft, without forcing.

Colour: Intense and clear ruby red.

Sensory notes: complex and fine aroma, hints of ripe red fruit stand out immediately, black cherry in particular, then giving way to notes of pepper, liquorice and spice. On the palate the flavour is soft and elegant, supported by good acidity with mineral notes and rounded off by a clean, persistent finish. A wine suited to long ageing.

Serving temperature: 16-18°C

Alcohol content: 14,5%

Vinification: The grapes are left to macerate at low temperatures for the first 3-4 days, followed by a slow alcoholic fermentation lasting about 20 days, during which gentle punch-downs and several pump-overs a day are carried out. Malolactic fermentation: spontaneous, in the summer following the harvest.

Ageing: The wine rests for the first months in stainless steel at controlled temperature, then spends a couple of years in 25 Hl French oak casks, in contact with its own natural yeasts; finally another year in small steel tanks. No filtration is carried out. Bottle ageing lasts at least six months. All at ideal temperature and humidity.

Harvest period: In September only the best bunches are picked by hand, and a meticulous sorting removes every berry that does not meet the winery's high standards.

Food pairings: The structure and elegance of Le Mattoline make it a Valpolicella Superiore particularly suited to first courses with rich sauces, grilled red meat, braised dishes and mature cheeses. Freshness and mineral character keep the sip balanced even in the most intense pairings, while structure and persistence allow an interesting evolution over the years.

Production philosophy: The production philosophy is based on respect for the environment: organic and partly biodynamic methods are used, following the lunar calendar too. For generations the family has tended the land to preserve its fertility and vitality, encouraging a natural balance between soil, insects and wildlife.

Between Verona and the hills overlooking Lake Garda, a valley of stone, vineyards, and history welcomes the most authentic essence of Veneto wine.

Situated between Verona and Lake Garda, Valpolicella is a mosaic of hills, vineyards, and stone villages that tell the story of centuries of civilization, work, and beauty. It's a valley that breathes the rhythm of the earth, where every season has its own scent and every gesture preserves an ancient knowledge. The name "Valpolicella" likely derives from the Latinvallis poli cellae, "valley of many cellars": a destiny written from the very beginning, when wine was already an integral part of life and culture in these hills in Roman times. The first evidence of vine cultivation dates back to the 1st century AD, and over the centuries, Valpolicella wine has become a symbol of a patient art, passed down from generation to generation. Among the Romanesque churches, rural courtyards, and Venetian villas, one can read the layers of a history that has united nobility and peasants, faith and work, land and spirit. Every stone, every row of vines, every village like Fumane, Marano, Negrar, or San Pietro in Cariano, tells of a community that has built its identity around wine.

Valpolicella is a unified yet complex territory, divided into three large areas, each with a distinct character that contributes to the overall harmony of its wines.

The Classic ValpolicellaThe oldest and most well-known, Valpolicella includes the historic municipalities of Fumane, Marano, Negrar, San Pietro in Cariano, and Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella. Here, vines grow on limestone and white marl soils, in a landscape of extraordinary beauty. It is the birthplace of Amarone and Recioto, intense and complex wines born from a perfect balance between nature, technique, and human intuition.

The Valpantena, located further east, is a green and harmonious valley, where vineyards alternate with olive groves and forests. It's known as the "valley of all gifts" thanks to its ideal exposure and mineral-rich soils. The wines here express elegance, freshness, and verticality: another voice, more subtle but equally profound, in the great chorus of Valpolicella.

Eastern Valpolicella, which encompasses the municipalities of Mezzane, Illasi, and Cazzano di Tramigna, stands out for the strength and structure of its wines. The volcanic soils and drier climate produce powerful, characterful, and long-lived reds, representing the boldest and most contemporary side of tradition.

The Valpolicella landscape is an open-air museum. Renaissance Venetian villas, built by noble Veronese families, alternate with Romanesque churches like San Giorgio di Valpolicella, one of the oldest and most evocative sites in the area. The rural stone courtyards, meanwhile, tell the story of rural life, the toil and joy of a profession that is still evident in the daily gestures of winemakers today. In Valpolicella, time is the true protagonist: the time of appassimento, when the grapes are laid out in drying rooms and the winter air slowly dries them, concentrating their aromas and flavors; the time of fermentation and waiting, which transforms the must into wine; the time of memory, which links each vintage to the next like chapters in the same story. Amarone, Recioto, and Valpolicella Superiore are not just wines, but forms of storytelling: stories of hands, patience, and vision. Each bottle captures the essence of this valley: the strength of the stone, the gentle hills, the wisdom of man. Today, Valpolicella is one of Italy's most prestigious winemaking regions, yet it remains faithful to its authentic soul. New generations of producers have respectfully innovated, keeping the culture of the vineyard and the community alive. Every winery, large or small, cherishes the same conviction: that wine here is born not only from the land, but from the encounter between memory, identity, and time. Valpolicella is a valley that never ceases to teach the value of slowness, listening, and continuity. It is a place where wine is not just drunk: it is lived.

There are wineries that have helped write the history of Italian wine, and others that have been living that history for centuries. Ginibelongs to this second category. In Monteforte d'Alpone, in the heart of Soave Classico, the family has been cultivating vines since at least 1570, spanning fifteen generations without ever breaking their bond with the land. A journey of over four centuries that not only tells the story of a continuous surname but also the extraordinary ability to preserve a heritage made of vineyards, knowledge, and sensibility, handed down from father to son to the present day. The symbolic date chosen by the family is January 22, 1570, the wedding day of Giobatta, son of Antonio Gini. From that moment, one of the oldest winemaking stories in Veneto began to take shape. Over the centuries, the family has experienced wars, social changes, and evolutions in viticulture, remaining faithful to their territory and a deep conviction: wine cannot be built, but only accompanied with respect, experience, and patience. This philosophy finds its maximum expression in the concept that has always guided the Gini family's work: time. The time needed for a vine to slowly sink its roots into the volcanic rock, the time of the seasons that mark the life of the vineyard, the time of waiting during aging, and the time of evolution in the bottle.

For Gini, time is not simply a measure, but the first ingredient of every great wine. It is on the hills of Monteforte d'Alponethat the historical soul of the company was born. In the heart of Soave Classico, the ancient Garganega vines sink their roots into volcanic soils, rich in basalt, tuff, and limestone veins formed millions of years ago. From this extraordinary geological heritage, great white wines for aging are born, capable of evolving slowly while maintaining acidity, freshness, and a distinct mineral imprint. The longevity of the vines, the complexity of the soils, and the variety of microclimates define the vocation of a unique terroir, capable of producing Soave of depth, elegance, and surprising evolutionary capacity. Among the most precious assets preserved by the family are the old Garganega vines, some over a century old, many still pre-phylloxera and ungrafted. In an era when renewing vineyards was the simplest choice, Gini decided not to uproot its historic vines, preserving a genetic and clonal richness that is practically unique in the Soave landscape. The roots penetrate deeply into the volcanic rock, reaching water and mineral salts even in the most difficult vintages. It is precisely this radical depth that contributes to the sapidity, complexity, and longevity that distinguish the family's wines.

For Gini, nature has never been something to dominate, but a reality to observe and listen to. The company manages its vineyards according to the principles of certified organic farming, respecting the natural rhythms of the plant and even paying attention to lunar phases. Green manure, grassing, protection of woods and trees surrounding the vineyards, preservation of soil fertility, and safeguarding biodiversity are practices adopted long before they became central themes in contemporary viticulture. In the Contrada Salvarenzacru, ecosystem studies have identified over two hundred insect species, testifying to the vitality of a healthy and harmonious agricultural environment. In the 1980s, brothers Sandro and Claudio Ginibrought a new turning point to the company's history. Sandro delved into the world of indigenous yeasts, discovering extraordinary microbiological biodiversity in the cellar and eventually eliminating sulfur dioxide during grape vinification to preserve its purity. This pioneering choice anticipated many of the themes that would mark enology in the following decades. Claudio, on the other hand, consolidated an agronomic vision linked to organic and biodynamic viticulture, strengthening the relationship between natural balance, grape quality, and wine identity.

The pursuit of the highest expression of Soave Classico led the family to enhance two vineyards that would become authentic benchmarks of the appellation: La Froscà, established in 1985, and Contrada Salvarenza, introduced in 1989. Each cru tells a different personality, shaped by the geology, exposure, altitude, and microclimates of Monteforte d'Alpone. The grapes are interpreted without forcing, allowing the harvest and the vineyard to guide decisions in the cellar. This is how Soave Classico wines are born that do not chase immediacy, but find their best ally in time, growing in minerality, depth, and complexity. The search for authenticity did not stop at the hills of Soave Classico. Among the reliefs of eastern Alta Valpolicella, the Gini family created one of its most ambitious projects: Tenuta Scajari. Among the hills of Campiano, in the municipality of Cazzano di Tramigna, at altitudes between 400 and 600 meters, a landscape of rare beauty unfolds, where woods, cherry trees, olive groves, and vineyards coexist in a still-intact natural balance.

The name Scajariderives from the dialect word scaja, used to indicate the small yellowish-reddish limestone flakes originating from the slow disintegration of the stratified rock of the subsoil. Tenuta Scajari represents the desire to establish an even deeper connection with nature: a small earthly paradise where constant ventilation, excellent sun exposure, significant temperature excursions, and the richness of calcareous, stony, and clayey soils, enriched with volcanic components, allow for the production of dynamic, elegant wines with intense mineral complexity. Since 1987, an important environmental recovery project has restored the ancient beauty of the Campiano lands, preserving the natural characteristics of the landscape and the vitality of the ecosystem. This work gives rise to the High Altitude Pearls: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon cultivated in high-altitude vineyards, where the cool climate and temperature excursions favor slow maturation, aromatic precision, and surprising evolutionary capacity. These are wines that reveal a lesser-known side of Veronese viticulture, where altitude becomes an extraordinary ally of elegance and longevity.

In eastern Alta Valpolicella, the great red wines of Tenuta Scajari also take shape. Constant ventilation keeps the grapes healthy and accompanies a natural drying process in the fruit cellar, without forcing. This results in Amarone della Valpolicellaand Valpolicella Superiorewines capable of combining structure, freshness, aromatic intensity, and mineral depth, interpreting the territory with a measured style far from excesses. The same culture of waiting accompanies the elegant Metodo Classicoand the precious Gocce Nobili. In sparkling wines, patience and daily care transform time on the lees into finesse and harmony; in Recioto, the drying process concentrates aromas and sweetness, giving life to an enveloping wine capable of narrating the value of rare things. From Ancestral Method Reciototo great aging white wines, time continues to be the invisible thread that unites every expression of the winery.

For fifteen generations, the Gini family has demonstrated that time is the most precious interpreter of wine. From the historic vineyards of Soave Classico to the pristine landscapes of Tenuta Scajari, every bottle is born from the encounter between nature, experience, and a patience that only great winemaking families know how to preserve. From Soave Classicoto eastern Alta Valpolicella, Gini continues to interpret wine with the same philosophy that has accompanied the family since 1570. The great Soave wines, the historic crus Contrada Salvarenzaand La Froscà, the Amarone and Valpolicella wines of Tenuta Scajari, the High Altitude Pearls, the Metodo Classico, and the precious Reciototell a unique story of territory, biodiversity, and time. It is this extraordinary consistency, preserved through fifteen generations, that makes Gini one of the most authentic and authoritative expressions of Italian viticulture.