Forget everything you think you know about Valpolicella being just a light Italian red. Bertani Le Miniere di Novare 2021 comes from one of the winery’s dedicated single-vineyard crus in the heart of Valpolicella Classica.
The wine comes from the Le Miniere vineyard at Tenuta Novare in Arbizzano di Negrar, a 4.01-hectare site made up of two southwest-facing terraces located above the historic Novare mine shaft. The vineyard’s soils are particularly distinctive, with Eocene limestone and Late Cretaceous Scaglia Rossa rock over reddish clay.
The blend is classic Valpolicella: 70% Corvina Veronese, 20% Corvinone and 10% Rondinella. Rather than relying on heavy oak or extraction, Bertani matures the wine in concrete vats for 6–9 months, followed by at least six months of bottle maturation.
In the glass, Le Miniere shows a bright ruby colour, followed by an expressive nose of fresh fruit, cherry and wild berries, with an elegant white-pepper note characteristic of Corvina. The palate is fresh, savoury and graceful, with impressive length and a distinctive mineral/saline character.
It’s a different proposition from Bertani’s richer Amarone: lighter on its feet, fresher and more immediately drinkable, while still offering the complexity and sense of place you’d expect from a single-vineyard wine.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Bright ruby red
Nose: Fresh cherry, wild berries, red fruit and delicate white pepper
Palate: Fresh, savoury, balanced and elegant, with lively acidity and a long, sapid finish
Style: Dry, fresh, medium-bodied Italian red
Alcohol: 12%
Serving temperature: 14–16°C
Perfect Pairings
This is the sort of red that loves food without overpowering it.
- Tomato-based pasta
- Pizza with mushrooms, salami or Italian sausage
- Roast chicken
- Grilled or roasted meats
- Aged and hard cheeses
- Italian charcuterie
- Mushroom dishes
Its freshness and savoury character make it particularly versatile at the table.
Vineyard & Terroir
Le Miniere is one of Bertani’s two dedicated Cru wines from Tenuta Novare. The vineyard covers 4.01 hectares across two southwest-facing terraces above the historic Novare mine shaft.
The soil combines Eocene limestone, Scaglia Rossa rock and reddish clay, with an effective depth of around one metre. The vines average around 20 years of age and are trained using the Double Guyot system.
This combination of site, native varieties and restrained maturation helps give the wine its distinctive combination of fresh red fruit, spice, savouriness and length.
Why We Love It
Because Valpolicella doesn’t always need to be big to be impressive.
Le Miniere is a great bottle for anyone who enjoys Italian reds with freshness, character and food-friendly structure rather than massive oak or heavy extraction.
And there’s something particularly appealing about drinking a single-vineyard Valpolicella from a producer with Bertani’s long history in the region. Bertani dates back to 1857, while Le Miniere is part of the winery’s more recent Cru project from Tenuta Novare.
Geek’s verdict: Think cherry, pepper, freshness and a serious sense of place — Valpolicella with its sleeves rolled up.
