Terroir and climate
The Verona wine region and its characteristics
The Verona province stands as a cornerstone of Italian viticulture, distinguished by its rich historical legacy and exceptional terroir. Located in the Veneto region, this area is characterized by morainic hills, diverse soil profiles, and a temperate climate shaped by the Lessini Mountains to the north and Lake Garda to the west.
The viticultural tradition here traces its origins to Roman times, evolving over centuries into renowned appellations such as Valpolicella Classica, Valpolicella Allargata, and Soave. These zones, while united by a shared commitment to quality, exhibit distinct environmental attributes influenced by the interplay of the Monti Lessini and Lake Garda, defining their unique enological identities.
Valpolicella Classica
Arbizzano Estate
Climate
In the Valpolicella Classica zone, specifically Arbizzano, where vineyards are situated at the historic Tenuta Santa Maria estate dating back to the 1700s, altitudes range from 80 to 180 meters across terraced slopes. The climate is temperate and conducive to viticulture. . Summers are warm yet moderated by breezes from the Monti Lessini, while winters remain mild under the stabilizing influence of the lake. Vineyards, oriented north-south, optimize natural ventilation, mitigating humidity and promoting vine health
Soil
The soils here are marly-calcareous with a rocky substrate. In contrast to Valpolicella Allargata, these soils are more compact and less impacted by alluvial deposits, dominated by marls and sedimentary rock, imparting a pronounced minerality. Derived partly from Monti Lessini erosion, they offer excellent drainage and a mineral-rich foundation for balanced vine growth
Impact on Grape Varieties and Wines
Indigenous varieties—Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Oseleta—thrive under these conditions, yielding grapes with concentrated aromas and robust structure, driven by soil minerality and a gradual ripening process facilitated by the climate and ventilation. At Tenuta Santa Maria di Gaetano Bertani, the Amarone Classico showcases complexity with notes of dried fruit, cocoa, and spice, while the Valpolicella Classico Superiore delivers refined freshness and vibrant red fruit, reflecting the vitality of the grapes.
Valpolicella Classica
The Estate in Arbizzano
Climate
In the Valpolicella Classica zone, specifically Arbizzano, where vineyards are situated at the historic Tenuta Santa Maria estate dating back to the 1700s, altitudes range from 80 to 180 meters across terraced slopes. The climate is temperate and conducive to viticulture. Compared to Valpolicella Allargata, this area benefits from greater shelter from cold winds due to its proximity to the Prealps and a more inland position relative to Lake Garda. Summers are warm yet moderated by breezes from the Monti Lessini, while winters remain mild under the stabilizing influence of the lake. Vineyards, oriented north-south, optimize natural ventilation, mitigating humidity and promoting vine health.
Soil
The soils here are marly-calcareous with a rocky substrate. In contrast to Valpolicella Allargata, these soils are more compact and less impacted by alluvial deposits, dominated by marls and sedimentary rock, imparting a pronounced minerality. Derived partly from Monti Lessini erosion, they offer excellent drainage and a mineral-rich foundation for balanced vine growth.
Impact on Grape Varieties and Wines
Indigenous varieties—Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Oseleta—thrive under these conditions, yielding grapes with concentrated aromas and robust structure, driven by soil minerality and a gradual ripening process facilitated by the climate and ventilation. At Tenuta Santa Maria di Gaetano Bertani, the Amarone Classico showcases complexity with notes of dried fruit, cocoa, and spice, while the Valpolicella Classico Superiore delivers refined freshness and vibrant red fruit, reflecting the vitality of the grapes.
Illasi Valley & Soave Region
Colognola ai colli estate
Climate
In the Val d’Illasi, at Tenuta Santa Maria alla Pieve in Colognola ai Colli, the climate is temperate yet distinct. Unlike Valpolicella Classica, this zone experiences greater exposure to cool evening breezes from the Monti Lessini, with less shielding from winds and a more subtle Lake Garda influence due to its eastern location. Sunny days are tempered by these breezes, encouraging slow, even ripening that preserves acidity and aromatic finesse. North-south vineyard orientation enhances natural ventilation, optimizing growing conditions.
Soil
The soils are marly-alluvial, enriched with active limestone and gravel from dissolved Monti Lessini calcareous deposits and valley waterways. Differing from Valpolicella Classica, these soils are looser and more alluvial, with gravel contributing to a less compact, more fertile profile and distinct water retention capacity. This composition ensures effective drainage and mineral enrichment for the vines.
Impact on Grape Varieties and Wines
Garganega, Merlot, and Chardonnay excel here: Garganega gains finesse and minerality, Merlot develops intensity and roundness, and Chardonnay achieves crispness and complexity, supported by ventilation and nutrient-rich soils. Tenuta Santa Maria di Gaetano Bertani’s Soave Lepiga offers elegant floral notes, the Merlot Decima Aurea, matured in wood, presents a smooth, spiced profile, and the Chardonnay Torre Pieve, partially fermented in oak, balances vibrancy with white fruit and vanilla undertones.
Illasi Valley & Soave Region
The Colognola ai colli estate
Climate
In the Val d’Illasi, at Tenuta Santa Maria alla Pieve in Colognola ai Colli, the climate is temperate yet distinct. Unlike Valpolicella Classica, this zone experiences greater exposure to cool evening breezes from the Monti Lessini, with less shielding from winds and a more subtle Lake Garda influence due to its eastern location. Sunny days are tempered by these breezes, encouraging slow, even ripening that preserves acidity and aromatic finesse. North-south vineyard orientation enhances natural ventilation, optimizing growing conditions.
Soil
The soils are marly-alluvial, enriched with active limestone and gravel from dissolved Monti Lessini calcareous deposits and valley waterways. Differing from Valpolicella Classica, these soils are looser and more alluvial, with gravel contributing to a less compact, more fertile profile and distinct water retention capacity. This composition ensures effective drainage and mineral enrichment for the vines.
Impact on Grape Varieties and Wines
Garganega, Merlot, and Chardonnay excel here: Garganega gains finesse and minerality, Merlot develops intensity and roundness, and Chardonnay achieves crispness and complexity, supported by ventilation and nutrient-rich soils. Tenuta Santa Maria di Gaetano Bertani’s Soave Lepiga offers elegant floral notes, the Merlot Decima Aurea, matured in wood, presents a smooth, spiced profile, and the Chardonnay Torre Pieve, partially fermented in oak, balances vibrancy with white fruit and vanilla undertones.
Valpolicella Classica and Illasi Valley, alongside the proximate Soave zone, exemplify Veronese viticultural excellence, where the Monti Lessini and Lake Garda, combined with strategic vineyard orientation, shape distinctive climates and soils that yield wines of profound character and heritage.
Further enriching this legacy, a third project from Tenuta Santa Maria is under development in Valpantena, above Grezzana, at elevations of 350 to 500 meters, where high-altitude vineyards exposed to Monti Lessini winds will provide an additional, distinctive expression of the region’s terroir
a sustainable model
Agronomic Management at Tenuta Santa Maria
Preserving soil health and biodiversity to enhance vine vitality & wine quality.
Tenuta Santa Maria stands as a model of sustainable viticulture within the Veronese wine region, expertly blending productivity with ecological responsibility across its distinctive terroirs—Valpolicella Classica at Arbizzano, Valpolicella Allargata in Val d’Illasi, and an emerging high-altitude site in Valpantena. The estate’s agronomic management is dedicated to preserving soil health, subterranean fauna, and microbiology, fostering vine vitality and enhancing wine quality through refined organoleptic profiles. Fully compliant with the Italian National Integrated Production Quality System (SQNPI) protocols, Tenuta Santa Maria is also advancing toward organic certification, underscoring its commitment to sustainable practices and authentic terroir expression.
Limestone soil of Arbizzano
Soil, Subterranean Fauna and Microbiology
Protecting Life Beneath the Vines
Soil management at Tenuta Santa Maria is meticulously structured to sustain a robust microbial ecosystem within the soil, essential for vine nutrition and wine quality. The marly-calcareous soils of Arbizzano and the marly-alluvial, gravel-rich soils of Val d’Illasi support a diverse microbial population.
Manual harvesting of Corvina
Preserving Biodiversity
Sustainable Agronomic Practices
Tenuta Santa Maria adheres to SQNPI, RRR e Diversity Ark protocols, integrating pest management and sustainable farming standards, while actively pursuing organic certification. The following detailed practices preserve soil biodiversity and enhance wine quality.
Positive Impact on Wine Quality and Characteristics
Enhancing Organoleptic Properties
Tenuta Santa Maria’s sustainable viticulture, rooted in preserving soil fauna and microbiology, enhances wine quality while benefiting both vine and human health. Through cover cropping, minimal tillage, organic fertilization, integrated pest management, and precise irrigation, grapes achieve remarkable complexity: optimal phenolic ripeness yields intense aromas of ripe fruit and spice, silky tannins meld with vibrant minerality, and crisp acidity balances juicy freshness with smooth textures.
These wines unveil earthy nuances and floral hints, delivering refined structure and a persistent, expressive finish that captivates the palate. Aligned with SQNPI standards and pursuing organic certification, this approach blends modern precision with a return to pre-industrial roots, crafting authentic, terroir-driven wines that reflect a profound connection to nature.
The Wines of Tenuta Santa Maria
Combining traditional methods, advanced technology, and experience passed down through generations of family tradition, we produce wines that are the full expression of our land.
