In 2007 Cav. G.B.Bertany winery celebrated 150 years of history, promoting a philosophy hinged on traditions that gave rise to many important wines like Secco Bertani, Soave and, from the middle of last Century, the one that is recognized as one of the most important wine in the world: the Amarone.

The History of the Bertani winery.

The winery was founded in 1857 at Quinto di Valpantena by the brothers Giovanbattista and Gaetano Bertani. Bertani’s philosophy went on drawing the image of the whole Veronese production. For example, in 1888 the local Chamber of Commerce, Handicrafts and Agriculture studied the wine production in Valpolicella Valpantena. According to the committee members the winery promptly reacted to the economic crisis due to Risorgimento riots (1866) introducing logical improvements both in the vineyards and in the wine production system. The result of such a managerial approach was Secco Bertani, a revolutionary wine for that epoch. In 1900, during Verona International Exhibition, the Agricultural, Science and Literature Academy conferred an honour upon Bertani brothers referring to the introduction of new varieties of vine, the training system methods and new wines.

 

Bertani’s top wines: Soave, and Amarone.

During the years Bertani brothers were deeply involved in reaching the maximum quality and the presence of Bertani wines in prestigious events and menus both in Italy and in Europe proved that. In fact Soave Bertani was chosen in 1937 to be the only white wine at the coronation of George VI of England. Secco Bertani then, became very quickly an icon of Italian quality wine in the world, being aboard the most luxurious cruise ship and the best restaurants and being supplied even to the Savoia’s royal catering. Because of this in the early ‘20s the winery was appointed firstly by the queen mother and then officially by the king as official supplier and allowed the use of the royal crest as one of the Italian particularly distinctive products.

As it was for the first bottle of Soave, the new Amarone wine, one of the earliest Amarones produced from the Fifties became a landmark for the whole local wineries. Amarone Classico Bertani has always been keeping its character intact and its power in a perfect balance. A style that goes behind the time and grant long-lasting wines.

 Bertani  wine making today

Bertani today owns about 200 hectares (494 acres) of vineyards in the most important DOC regions that are in Verona district, namely Valpolicella Classica, Valpolicella Valpantena, Soave and Lake Garda. The winery headquarters is the cellar situated at Grezzana, built in 1860 in Valpolicella Valpantena valley, North-East side of Verona.

 Amarone Cellar tours

The cellar, a beautiful example of industrial heritage, is open for tours. During a guided tour visitors can hear the history and the learning that made Bertani’s wines an unique expression of the Veronese land and they can even see tools used in the past that are exposed in the cellar wine museum. In this historical atmosphere, it is possible to taste the winery’s most famous wines.