Corte Sant’Alda: Redefining Valpolicella’s Legacy

I had the privilege of visiting Corte Sant’Alda on the 30th of January 2025, where I had the unique chance to taste all the wines produced by Marinella Camerani alongside Michael Palij MW. From established vintages to wines rarely poured and even a few experimental gems, it was a journey into one of Valpolicella’s most exceptional estates. Biodynamic winemaking Marinella Camerani Valpolicella

When we talk about Valpolicella, certain images spring to mind—rolling hills, stone cellars, and the rich, opulent reds that have become the region’s signature. But then there’s Corte Sant’Alda, a winery that not only challenges these traditions but reshapes them entirely. To call it one of Valpolicella’s finest estates is an understatement. This is a winery that stands ahead of the pack, delivering wines with a vision so precise and a style so distinct, it’s hard to compare them to anything else.Corte Sant’Alda: Redefining Valpolicella’s Legacy

A Different Kind of Appassimento

Freshness. That’s the word that defines Corte Sant’Alda’s wines. This signature quality stems from Marinella Camerani’s meticulous approach to winemaking. By employing biodynamic practices, she ensures that every step of the process respects the vineyard’s natural rhythm. The air-drying method used for the appassimento process is a perfect example: grapes are carefully monitored over months to maintain vibrancy and avoid over-concentration. Grapes chosen for air drying are typically selected at the beginning of the harvest, with more added as picking progresses. They are then left to air dry naturally, sometimes until February, without a fixed drying period. This method requires intense monitoring, as high humidity levels demand careful attention. It’s high-maintenance, but the results speak for themselves.

Often yielding dense, syrupy Amarones, the appassimento process at Corte Sant’Alda manages to sidestep the typical pitfalls. Here, you won’t find overblown glucose sweetness, brash extractions, or soapy, palate-saturating wines. Instead, Corte Sant’Alda delivers something rare: balance.

Their wines are textural and layered, but never heavy. The harmony is palpable; the tannins integrated, the acidity vibrant, and the fruit alive. They’re sophisticated but not pretentious, approachable yet endlessly intriguing.

The Wines: An Experience, Not Just a Drink

Here are the highlights of the tasting:

• Ripasso Della Valpolicella Superiore DOC "Campi Magri" 2020: This Ripasso strikes a perfect equilibrium. Dark fruits are met with bright acidity, leaving you refreshed and intrigued. Its deep cherry colour hints at opulent flavours of sweet berry, cherry, and bramble fruits, with subtle rosemary notes adding complexity. Well-integrated tannins and vibrant fruit character complete this elegant wine.

• Amarone  Della Valpolicella "Valle""Mezzane" 2017: This flagship wine redefines Amarone. it boasts an intense garnet red colour and a captivating bouquet of berry jam, coffee, milk chocolate, and spices. Full-bodied to robust, it’s tense and savoury, with none of the sweetness often associated with modern Amarone. Impeccable structure and freshness make it powerful yet graceful.

• Recioto della Valpolicella 2019: This dessert wine is transformed at Corte Sant’Alda. Naturally dried from October to January, the grapes create a wine with a deep, bright purple colour. The bouquet is harmonious, filled with red fruit, dried fruit, and spices. It’s dense but lighter than expected on the palate, with sweetness balanced by freshness and elegance—a wine that dances rather than lingers.

• Ca’ Fiui Valpolicella 2023: A modern masterpiece. This wine is charming with its lively red colour and vibrant mid-palate. Notes of cherry, raspberry, and spice create a bright, crunchy profile. Silky on the palate, it is highly approachable and yet gives you a sense of depth and storytelling. certainly redefining what Valpolicella is.

  
  

Ahead of the Curve

In a region known for its rich winemaking heritage, Corte Sant’Alda doesn’t just honour tradition—it evolves it. This is Valpolicella through a new lens, where complexity meets drinkability, and power is balanced with grace. Marinella Camerani has created something truly extraordinary here: wines that not only stand as some of the best in Valpolicella but could arguably be the best in the region.

For those lucky enough to taste them, these wines offer more than flavour—they offer an interpretation, a vision. And in a world of homogenised styles and predictable profiles, that’s something worth celebrating.

Legacy and Vision

At the heart of Corte Sant’Alda’s success is Marinella Camerani. This isn’t just winemaking; it’s storytelling. With every sip, you’re jumping between a rich history and a bold future—Marinella’s vision shaped by her location and her unique approach to viticulture.

Her wines are crafted through three essential pillars:

1. A deep connection to the land, translating the soil and climate into every bottle.

2. A vision that honours tradition while daring to push boundaries.

3. The tools to deliver perfection, from biodynamic practices to meticulous craftsmanship.

   
   

What Sets Corte Sant’Alda Apart?

Valpolicella has its great estates, but Corte Sant’Alda operates in a class of its own. It isn’t about bold, saturating wines. Instead, Marinella delivers harmony—freshness that feels alive, textures that are sophisticated and integrated, and wines that are a true expression of the land.

Every wine, from the Ripasso to the Amarone, holds a lightness of touch and a depth of meaning. But Ca’ Fiui 2023 is a standout—a fresh and refined interpretation that will challenge everything you think you know about Valpolicella.

If Valpolicella is a symphony, Corte Sant’Alda is its boldest, most original movement.

Distributed in Uk by Wine Traders

by Arnaud Compas