GUERRIERI RIZZARDI ESTATES
History & Philosophy
Guerrieri Rizzardi is located in Bardolino at the centre of the DOC Classico zone and remains under the ownership of the Contessa Maria Cristina Rizzardi and her family. The vineyards and winemaking are managed by her son Giuseppe Rizzardi who trained in Bordeaux.
In 2010 Contessa Rizzardi was appointed a Cavaliere del Lavoro – the first woman to hold one of Italy's highest honours which places her among other great wine stars such as Piero Antinori, Vittorio Frescobaldi, Giuseppe Gioia and Diego Planeta. Guerrieri Rizzardi are champions of the region’s historical grape varieties and produce an elegant range of wines which reflect the relationship between the land, their heritage and tradition. The family have just completed a significant investment programme, developing a new winery in Bardolino, to lay down the foundations for future growth.
Vineyard & Climate
Guerrieri Rizzardi is one of the very few producers to hold land and wineries in all three of the historic Classico zones of the Veneto: Bardolino, Valpolicella, and Soave. All grapes come from 100 hectares of the Estate vineyards and are vinified in the cellars situated in each Classico region.
The Soave vineyards are well-located on the hills, within sight of the Castello di Soave, at the heart of the Classico DOC area. All of the Bardolino vineyards are in the Classico zone, and receive reflections from Lake Garda, as ancient tradition says they should. The Valpolicella vineyards are in the renowned commune of Negrar, one of the most historic communes in the Classico zone.
GUERRIERI RIZZARDI ESTATES, Veneto, Italy
GR Range
Prosecco Extra Dry IGT
A dry style of the Venetian sparkling wine Prosecco. Soft, refreshing, with crisp citrus and white peach flavours
Pinot Grigio Veneto IGT
Crisp and fruity, with citrus notes and a refreshing, lingering finish
Soave Estate
Soave Classico DOC
A classic Soave, packed with green fruits, mineral undertones, and crisp acidity – Garganega, Chardonnay, Trebbiano di Soave
‘Costeggiola’ Soave Classico DOC
A richer style Soave from the great Costeggiola vineyard, textured and mineral – Garganega, Chardonnay
‘Costeggiola’ Recioto di Soave Classico DOCG
A true Recioto, appassimento of 3/5 months, aged in oak for 18 months. Produced in very limited quantities. – Garganega 100%
Bardolino Estate
Chiaretto Bardolino Classico Rosé DOC
Vibrant, delicate, an elegant rosé from the shores of Lake Garda – Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara, Sangiovese, Negrara
Bardolino Classico DOC
A lighter style red wine from Veneto, juicy, soft, with lifted floral aromas – Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara, Negrara
‘Tacchetto’ Bardolino Classico DOC
A single vineyard in the village of Cavaion – black fruit and spicy notes, crisp acidity – Corvina, Rondinella, Merlot
‘Munus’ Bardolino Superiore Classico DOCG
Limited quantities are produced of this rich, spicy medium bodied Bardolino, with great complexity and length Corvina, Rondinella
and Merlot
Valpolicella Estate
Valpolicella Classico DOC
A serious Valpolicella, with floral notes of violets, sour cherries, crisp acidity and good length
Corvinone, Rondinella, Merlot, Molinara and Barbera
‘Pojega’ Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOC
Single vineyard wine – goes through a second fermentation (Ripasso) on the Amarone skins – rich, elegant with light Amarone notes
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara
Villa Rizzardi Amarone Classico della Valpolicella DOC
Grapes naturally dried for three months. Classic Amarone, with dried black and fig fruit, coffee and chocolate, good balance
Corvina, Rondinella, Corvinone, Barbera, Sangiovese
‘Calcarole’ Amarone Classico della Valpolicella DOC
Single vineyard wine, of which only a few barrels are produced in exceptional years. Intense, with great weight
Corvina, Rondinella, Barbera.
Single Estates
Bardolino
These vineyards are situated in three of the exclusive six villages: Bardolino, Cavaion and Costermano, which are all located on hillsides on the eastern coastline of Lake Garda. The soils are mostly sand and clay; some are more calcareous and stony. The local climate is mild and temperate due to the influence of Lake Garda. The vineyards are at an altitude of between 70 and 190 metres above sea level. The vines are divided into 35 different vineyard sites and are planted to a density of between 2,000 to 5,000 vines per hectare. The average age of vines is approximately 15 years old.
The Tacchetto vineyard is in the village of Cavaion below Monte Baldo. The vineyard has its own unique terrain and conditions with small stones and calcareous rock.
Valpolicella
The vineyards and wine cellars are located in Negrar, one of the five municipalities of the Valpolicella DOC Classico zone. The vineyards are planted on hillsides at an altitude of between 190 and 300 metres above sea level. The soil is predominantly clay and sand with a high abundance of chalk. The vines, divided into 22 vineyard sites, are upwards of 30 years of age. The density of vines planted per hectare ranges between 1,600 and 5,000 vines per hectare. Guerrieri Rizzardi own three ‘crus’, recognized single vineyard sites, in Valpolicella: Brolo Rovereti, Pojega and Calcarole.
The Pojega vineyard is situated near the celebrated gardens, created over 200 years ago by Conte Antonio Rizzardi in celebration of the fine wines he was producing from the vineyard. This 10 hectare vineyard produces 5 different parcels of fruit, with grapes for ripasso on lower levels where the fertile soil begins.
Soave
The soil type is clay mixed with an abundance of black volcanic crushed stone. The 30 separate vineyard sites are all located on the slopes next to Soave Castle and on the hill of Costeggiola which is between 40 to 200 metres above sea level. The vines are planted on south facing hillsides with between 2,200 and 4,800 vines per hectare which range from 3 to 45 years old.
The single vineyard Costeggiola is located on a hillside overlooking the Soave Classico region. This vineyard has an ideal climate and stony volcanic soil.
