Description

La Collina dei Ciliegi was founded by Massimo Gianolli, in the high lying Valpantena region of Valpollicella. Massimo has worked with the famous viticulturist couple Claude and Lydia Bourguignon to isolate the best soils and clones and varietals. Valpantena has high levels of limestone in the soils and here at La Collina some parcels of chalk which spurred Massimo to plant white varietals as well as the classic reds.

The tiny production Prea, meaning stone, is the pinnacle of Massimo’s white wine project, sourced from a 3.8 hectare vineyard, situated between 560- 610m, planted on limestone and chalk, with Garganega, Pinot Blanc and Bourgogne Aligoté, the Aligoté must be declared as its close relative Chardonnay as it is not a varietal recognised in Italy.

Only the finest bunches make it into Prea the remainder go to their delicious Garganega Veronese. The grapes are gently pressed and fermented in concrete vats before being aged on lees for 2 years in a mix of concrete and ceramic eggs.

Very mineral and very complex the warm 2022 vintage offers elegant peach and pear wrapped in chalky minerality, super long and super lovely! Think top 1er cru Chablis as a comparison.