Vintage: 2022

VintageProduct CodeFormatClosureAvailability
2022AZ103B226 x 75ScrewcapAvailable
Vegetarian
Vegan
Producer

Alpha Zeta was conceived in 1999 when Liberty Wines set out to produce a range of modern, fruit-driven wines from the hills outside Verona. Working with leading New Zealand winemaker Matt Thomson of Blank Canvas, Alpha Zeta works directly with growers rather than buying bulk wine, the standard for most wines from Verona at this price. In doing so, ripe grapes are obtained by reducing yields and picking later, utilising Matt’s expertise to preserve these flavours in the finished wines. As a result, Alpha Zeta continues to offer great value, quality, balance and typicity.

The unoaked Soave is dry, scented and delicious, while the Chardonnay is melony and impressive, offering outstanding value. The Pinot Grigio, made solely from grapes grown on hillside vineyards in the Alpone Valley, is balanced and quaffable with a lovely pear and bread crust character on the nose and palate. The ‘Terrapieno’ Pinot Grigio is a testament to the close collaboration between Matt and his grower. Having discovered the quality of the fruit from this vineyard, Matt decided to bottle it separately, creating a wine with great intensity and a silky texture. The reds are equally impressive. The Valpolicella has bright, black cherry fruit and velvety tannins, while the Ripasso is silky and scented. The Amarone is one of the best-value Amarones on the market.

Vineyards

The vineyards are situated at 100-400 metres above sea level in the hills outside Verona in the Valpantena Valley and are south/south-east facing. Cool breezes blow down the valley from the foothills of the Dolomites, which moderate the climate, enabling the grapes to ripen slowly. This helps the grapes to retain their aromatic compounds and acidity. The soil is poor and chalky so the vines are put under stress and produce superior quality fruit. The vines are 20-30 years old on average and are trained using both the traditional Pergola Veronese and Guyot systems.

Vintage

2022 was a dry and warm vintage overall. The grapes were healthy, with no disease pressure or issues across the vintage. Given this, harvest saw great quality grapes.

Vinification

The grapes were hand harvested, destemmed, crushed, and chilled on the way to the press with no addition of sulphur. The grapes were gently pressed in a pneumatic press and the juice was naturally settled. After racking, cultured yeasts were added to start fermentation, which took place at 15° to 18°C in 1200-hectolitre stainless steel tanks. Ageing took place in the same tanks, where the wine remained until bottling.

Tasting Notes & Technical Details

Bright straw yellow in the glass, this wine is aromatic and concentrated with a thread of minerality. The palate is clean, fresh and fruit driven, with a medium-bodied mouthfeel and long finish.

Alcohol (ABV)

13%

Acidity

5.8 g/l

Residual Sugar

4.75 g/l

pH

3.4

Other wines from this producer

Producer
Wine
Product Code
Features
Style
Alpha Zeta`V` ValpolicellaAZ102
Vegetarian
Vegan
R
Red
Factsheet
`C` CorvinaAZ105
R
Red
`G` GarganegaAZ106
Vegetarian
Vegan
W
White
`P` Pinot GrigioAZ107
W
White
`R` RosatoAZ108
Ro
Rosé
`A` Amarone della ValpolicellaAZ110
Vegetarian
Vegan
R
Red
Factsheet
`S` SoaveAZ111
W
White
`R` Valpolicella Superiore RipassoAZ117
Vegetarian
Vegan
R
Red
Factsheet
`Terrapieno` Pinot GrigioAZ142
W
White