2016 · Lepiga Soave

Tenuta Santa Maria is a historic, family-owned estate in Veneto’s Valpolicella Classica, run by brothers Giovanni and Guglielmo Bertani, the sixth generation of a lineage dating to the 15th century. The estate spans about 50 hectares across Valpolicella Classico, Illasi Valley and Valpantena, producing roughly 1,332 bottles annually. It emphasizes sustainable, low-intervention practices—low-yield, high-density planting, natural fermentations, estate-grown grapes and membership in the Italian Federation of Independent Winegrowers (FIVI)—though no formal certifications are listed. Winemaking prioritizes elegance, terroir expression and long aging, using traditional methods like appassimento drying on bamboo mats in historic 18th-century fruttai. The estate also focuses on native varieties, including a proprietary Corvina clone, and participates in sustainability protocols like SQNPI.