Secco Bertani

I’ve had the distinct pleasure of visiting Bertani during Vin Italy. I am familiar with most of their portfolio and love their Amarone Classico, a wine that takes six years from harvest to release. Bertani still makes their wine in the traditional style; their entire philosophy is based on quality and timeless techniques that have proven to be at the forefront of Amarone production. With the Euro approaching the one dollar and forty-five cent mark, the cost of the Amarone Classico has been prohibitive for some consumers. It’s a lot like the cost of diamonds, there is a carrying cost associated with the actual price of the jewelry. In order to make an Amarone Classico with six years of age, the time invested in the aging of the wine carries a cost that is associated with the price of the wine.

Fortunately for Italian wine lovers, Bertani makes a number of great wines, utilizing their winemaker’s talents that allow us the quality of a Bertani Amarone at an affordable price. One such wine is the Secco Bertani, a Ripasso wine, fermented a second time on the skins of the Amarone. The result is a wine that is balanced and has great structure, which enables the wine to pair well with a wide array of food. The history behind Secco Bertani dates back to around eighteen-seventy, the wine originated in the hills of Valpantena. This is an amazing test of time, a true tribute to Italian winemaking. This is a wine by which all Ripasso are judged. I would have loved to taste the Secco Bertani in its early release back in the eighteen hundreds. It would have been interesting to see how the wine evolved over the last one hundred and forty years.

Bertani makes wines that are truly timeless, wines meant to age and mature with a lifespan parallel to a human. I’ve had the distinct pleasure of tasting the 1947 Secco Bertani at an event held at Villa Novare during Vin Italy several years ago. Recently, I spent time tasting some of the latest releases of Bertani, the 2005 Secco Bertani was one of the wines we tasted and I have to tell you, I taste this wine every year at Vin Italy and I’m always amazed at the flavor profile, and the quality of this wine. If you’re looking for an old style wine, which drinks like an Amarone at a fraction of the cost, this wine has your name all over it. The current vintage is the 2005 and I had the pleasure of drinking it with the sales manager of Bertani, we both agreed the wine is drinking wonderfully.

Don’t let the cost of Amarone get you down, try the Secco Bertani and you will have moved one step closer to understanding the love of Amarone. You might just surprise yourself on your next anniversary or special occasion and have to experience the Amarone Classico for yourself.

Dick Varano