Product Description
At Guerrieri Rizzardi, we produce estate bottled fine wines from our historical estates. The relationship between our land, heritage and tradition has, for many years, moulded our philosophy, yet we never lose sight of innovation in our quest to produce a better bottle of wine
– Rizzardi Family
Guerrieri Rizzardi believes in producing wines as an expression of the soil and of the grape variety, thus enhancing the unique personality and character of each wine. Ultimately, their goal is produce wines of quality that are modern and fruit forward, yet connected to their heritage.
At Guerrieri Rizzardi they respect the balance of nature.They use natural compost to fertilize the vines. Guerrieri Rizzardi keeps the immediate environment in the tradition of natural plant diversity – in today’s language, biodiversity.
www.guerrieri-rizzardi.com
The Guerrieri Rizzardi family owns a total of four different wine estates in the four DOC Classico areas of Bardolino, Valpolicella, Soave and Valdadige-Terra dei Forti.
Bardolino
The Vineyards and wine cellars are located in Bardolino, the centre of the DOC Classico zone. Guerrieri Rizzardi vineyards are situated in 3 of the exclusive 6 villages: Bardolino, Cavaion, Costermano, which are all located on hillsides on the eastern coastline of Lake Garda. The red grapes that are planted are Corvina and Corvinone (55%), Rondinella, Sangiovese, Merlot and Molinara. The white grapes that are planted are Garganega, Marcobona, Cortese, Moscato Bianco and Tocai Friulano. The soils are mostly sandy and clay; some are more calcareous and stony. The local climate is mild and temperate due to the influence of Lake Garda. The vineyards are on an altitude between 60 and 150 meters above sea level. The vines are divided into 35 different vineyards sites and are planted to a density between 2,000 to 5,000 vines per hectare. The average age of vines is approximately 15 years of age.
Valpolicella
The vineyards and wine cellars are located in Negrar, one of the 5 municipalities of the Valpolicella DOC Classico zone. Only 5 of the 19 municipalities are denominated as Classico. Only red grape varietals are planted at our Valpolicella estate and these are: Corvine and Corvinone (60%), Rondinella, Barbera and Merlot. The vineyards are approximately 190 meters above sea level and are planted on hillsides. The soil is predominantly clay and sand with a high presence of chalk. The vines, divided in 22 vineyard sites are upwards of 30 years of age. The density of vines planted per hectare ranges between 1,600 and 5,000 vines per hectare. We own three ‘crus’ or recognized single vineyard sites in Valpolicella: Brolo Rovereti, Pojega and Calcarole.
Soave
The vineyards and wine cellars are located in Soave, within the DOC Classico area. The Soave estate was acquired in 1970. Soave is one of only two Classico designated municipalities, the other 10 are only DOC. In Soave, we cultivate three white grape varietals, Garganega (70%), Chardonnay and Trebbiano di Soave. The soil type is clay mixed with an abundance of black volcanic crushed stone. Our 30 separate vineyard sites are all located next to Soave Castle and on the hill of Costeggiola. The elevation range ranges between 40 to 150 meters above sea level. The vines are planted between 2,200 and 4,800 vines per hectare and range from 3 to 45 years old. The vines are planted in terraces on a south facing hillsides.
Valdadige Terra dei Forti
Guerrieri Rizzardi has its vineyards in Dolcé, one of the four DOC Valdadige Terra dei Forti municipalities, on the border between Veneto and Trentino Regions. Chardonnay is cultivated in a deep sandy soil, in the valley of Adige, at approximately 200 meters above sea level with a density of 4,000 vines per hectare.
Guerrieri Rizzardi, the historic wine-growing firm in the Veneto region, is a result of the union between two ancient Veronese wine producers of substance: the Counts Guerrieri, owners of a centuries-old estate with vineyards and cellars in Bardolino, and the Counts Rizzardi, who acquired their vineyards in Negrar back in 1678, building the historic cellar of Pojega shortly thereafter. The small estate of Dolcè in Valdadige has always followed the life of the Guerrieri estate of Bardolino. The Soave estate, with its vineyards and cellar in Costeggiola, at the centre of the Classico area, was purchased in 1970.
Today, Guerrieri Rizzardi is under the ownership of the Rizzardi family. It remains a family business with vineyards in the four Classico areas for the production of the Veronese wines of Bardolino, Valpolicella, Soave and Valdadige. Guerrieri Rizzardi is based in Bardolino, housed in the ancient building belonging to the Guerrieri family and its ancestors since 1450. All our grapes come from estate vineyards and the wines are vinified in the cellars situated in each appellation.
