Author Archives: Daniel

Merano Wine Festival 2022

Some great results at the Merano Wine Awards this year,  including a GOLD for the new vintage of CALCAROLE, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico Riserva.

We will be back at Merano festival showing our wines on the 4th – 8th of November this year. Hope to see many old and new friends there!

Improving a cru vineyard

Even though it is the height of summer and temperatures soar, the work does not stop.
After the harvest of 2020 we took away some very old and tired vines which were planted by the pergola method back in the 1960s and now is the time to restructure the vineyard.

We are working and preparing the soil for the new vineyard: first by removing the surface soil and then breaking the first half metre to metre of the limestone rock underneath (in order to allow the new vines’ roots to go deeper); once this is done the surface soil will be re-positioned again on top of the broken limestone rock. After this we combine two sections of the vineyard to make a more stable terrace for future generations of vine.
It is a lot of work but once finished this will be another part of the cru of Costeggiola that will flourish in years to come.

 

 

Falstaff Amarone & Recioto Trophy 2022

Very happy with some nice big scores from Falstaff International Wine Magazine.

Calcarole, Villa Rizzardi, and 3CRU all continue to score highly in this annual prestige competition.

  • CALCAROLE, Amarone Della Valpolicella DOCG Classico Riserva 2015 93 points 
  • VILLA RIZZARDI, Amarone Della Valpolicella DOCG Classico Riserva 2015 94 points 
  • 3 CRU, Amarone Della Valpolicella DOCG Classico 2017 93 points

 

We just wish we had many more bottles in the cellar!!!

Highlights from the wine press

Robert Parker.com (December 2021)

  • 93 points: 3CRU, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico 2015
  • 90 points: CLOS ROARETI, Rosso Veronese IGT 2018
  • 88 points: POJEGA, Valpolicella Ripasso DOC Classico Superiore 2018

James Suckling.com (December 2021)

  • 95 points: VILLA RIZZARDI, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico Riserva 2015
  • 93 points CALCAROLE, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico Riserva 2015
  • 93 points CLOS ROARETI, Rosso Veronese IGT 20188
  • 90 points POJEGA, Valpolicella Ripasso DOC Classico Superiore 2019
  • 90 points CUVÉE XVII, Valpolicella DOC Classico 2020
  • 88 points CUVÉE XX, Soave DOC Classico 2020

GAMBERO ROSSO 2022 edition

  • TRE BICCHIERI: VILLA RIZZARDI, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico Riserva 2015
  • Due Bicchieri: CLOS ROARETI, Rosso Veronese IGT 2018
  • Due Bicchieri: POJEGA, Valpolicella Ripasso DOC Classico Superiore 2018
  • Due Bicchieri: CUVÉE XV, Bardolino DOC Classico 2020
  • Due Bicchieri: CUVÉE XX, Soave DOC Classico 2020
  • Due Bicchieri: FERRA, Soave DOC Classico 2019

 

VINI BUONI D’ITALIA 2022

    •  4 ****  VILLA RIZZARDI, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico Riserva 2015
    • 4 ****  FERRA, Soave DOC Classico 2019
    • 4 ****  KEYA, Bardolino DOC Chiaretto Classico 2020

 

BIBENDA 2022

  •  5 Grappoli:  CALCAROLE, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico Riserva 2015

KEYA ranked No. 3 Falstaff Magazine’s Top 100 Price Performance Wines

As we get ready to release the new vintage of KEYA Bardolino Chiaretto Classico it appears that the 2019 vintage has still not finished winning praise and acclaim!

Flagstaff have published their Top 100 Price Performance wines, the list of wines which have the best quality/price ratio around and once again KEYA in the top tier: with a huge 94 points KEYA was ranked No.3 in the €7 – €12 category. Luckily we still have a few hundred bottle left!

Available here at the winery and with our distributors around the world….but be quick!

Big points from top US wine guide VINOUS

Our current Amarone vintages have picked up some great scores and excellent write ups from Eric Guido, the man in charge of reviewing Veneto wines for leading US wine guide Vinous.

Eric awarded 94 points to CALCAROLE Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico 2013 describing it as ‘velvety-smooth and full bodied, yet it maintains perfect balance, blending ripe black fruits with exotic spices, mocha and purple inner florals’

VILLA RIZZARDI Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico 2013 was given 93 points and described it as ‘Powerful, concentrated and structured, this lingers on the palate for well over a minute. While ready to please today, the Villa Rizzardi will also excel through medium-term cellaring.

3CRU Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico 2015 which already won gold at Decanter was praised: ‘It’s deeply textural and soothing, enveloping the palate in ripe blackberries and plums with mineral underpinnings, feeling weighty but perfectly balanced’ and awarded 92 points.

 All three wines are available in limited quantities worldwide, if you want to track down a bottle and need help then let us know – export@guerrieri-rizzardi.it

 

Gold Medal for the new vintage of Amarone 3CRU

Amarone Classico 3CRU 2015, the newly released vintage, has today picked up a major prize in the international wine world. The 2015 has just been awarded a prestigious gold medal and a hefty 95 points from the London based, International Wine Challenge.

The International Wine Challenge (IWC) has for many years been considered at the forefront of wine competitions; in terms not only of size and of its influence on the world of wine but also for its integrity and impartiality.

We only wish we had a lot more bottles of this superb vintage to sell but the limited stocks are set to sell out in only a few months  – get it while you can!

Somewhat overshadowed by this, Pojega Valpolicella Ripasso 2018 was awarded silver at the same competition and a very respectable 92 points.

94 points for KEYA 2019 in FALSTAFF

Falstaff magazine – the German speaking world’s premier wine magazine – recent held a Trophy tasting of Italian rosé featuring some of country’s most famous rosato wines from the far south to the mountains of the north.

We are doubly delighted to announce that KEYA, our Bardolino DOC Chiaretto Classico, not only picked up 3rd place but also shared the highest score of the tasting at 94 points,

Tasting Note: Leuchtendes Lachsrosa. Offenherzige und einladende Nase, nach sattem Pfirsich, Erdbeeren, zarter Bourbon-Vanille, feines Duft-Spiel. Ausgewogener Trunk, sehr fruchtig und fein, spannt einen schönen Fächer, lebendig und knackig bis ins Finale.

In English (approximately!)

Bright salmon pink. Open and inviting nose, of rich peach, strawberries, delicate bourbon vanilla, fine play of fragrances. Balanced drink, very fruity and fine, fans out beautifully, lively and crisp to the finale. 94 points 

A lot of work has gone into realising KEYA, our new expression of Bardolino rosé, and it is extremely rewarding get such positive, early recognition.

We hope everyone, old friends and new, get to enjoy a glass soon!

Sunday Times Choice – Ireland

Master of Wine and Sunday Times wine writer Martin Moran every year picks out his top wines for The Wine Guide, a much anticipated annual selection which features in major Irish national newspaper The Sunday Times. The guide features more than 100 wines available to buy in Ireland each one chosen by Martin.

Very happy to say that our Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico 3CRU 2014 was chosen for the category of Full-Bodied Reds and awarded 92 points.

Here are the words of Martin Moran MW:

‘Rizzardi make excellent Amarones, and you could pay well in excess of this elsewhere and get little more than on offer here” 92/100

3CRU is available in limited quantities in a selection of countries, in Ireland it is imported exclusively by O’Briens Wines Beers & Spirits.

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