Vintage: 2023

VintageProduct CodeFormatClosureAvailability
2023AZ106B236 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 located at 100-300 meters above sea level in the hills of the Alpone valley, in the commune of Monteforte d'Alpone in eastern Soave. The fruit for this wine is grown in selected old vineyards with excellent south-east exposure, where growers have reduced their yields considerably to produce excellent quality fruit. The soil is made of marl and limestone 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

The 2023 season is considered one of the hottest and most challenging vintages in Italy, due to long periods of drought and severe hailstorms. resulting in poor yields. The altitude of the vineyards allowed for a good diurnal range, characterised by warm days and cool nights, which helped in preserving the acidity and freshness of the grapes.

Vinification

The grapes were hand harvested, destemmed, crushed, and chilled on the way to the press with no addition of sulphur before undergoing a short maceration to enhance the structure of the wine. Before racking, cultured yeasts were added to start fermentation, which took place at 12 to 16°C in 1200-hectolitre stainless steel tanks. These relatively low fermentation temperatures helped preserve the fresh fruit character of the grapes. The wine was then aged in the same stainless steel tanks on fine lees until bottling.

Tasting Notes & Technical Details

Golden in colour, this wine has a fresh, aromatic nose with perfumes of acacia blossom and a touch of dried herbs. On the palate, the Garganega is lively with a rich minerality and a clean, zesty finish.

Alcohol (ABV)

12.5%

Acidity

5.7 g/l

Residual Sugar

3.5 g/l

pH

3.35

Other wines from this producer

Producer
Wine
Product Code
Features
Style
Alpha Zeta`V` ValpolicellaAZ102
Vegetarian
Vegan
R
Red
Factsheet
`C` ChardonnayAZ103
Vegetarian
Vegan
W
White
Factsheet
`C` CorvinaAZ105
Vegetarian
Vegan
R
Red
`P` Pinot GrigioAZ107
Vegetarian
Vegan
W
White
`R` RosatoAZ108
Vegetarian
Vegan
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
Vegetarian
Vegan
W
White