Tedeschi winery in Valpolicella and Amarone Wine
In this episode of Italian Wine Podcast, Maria Sabrina Tedeschi from Cantine Tedeschi in Valpolicella tells Monty Waldin about her commitment to protect what the past generations did for Valpolicella. She shares insights into the renowned Tedeschi winery in Valpolicella and her willingness to improve both the quality and the image of the land. She also tells Monty about her love for Burgundy wines and the Burgundy region where she spent 6 months in an Erasmus exchange. According to Maria Sabrina, Burgundy wines share a similar elegance to Valpolicella wines. Join Monty Waldin on Italian Wine Podcast for exciting conversations about Italian wine.
Key Themes and Main Ideas
- The multi-generational history and legacy of the Tedeschi winery in Valpolicella.
- The evolution and challenges of Amarone wine production and market saturation.
- The significance of terroir, single vineyards, and quality preservation in Valpolicella.
- The dedication to protecting the image and heritage of the Valpolicella region.
- Succession planning and the future of family-run wine businesses in Italy.
Summary
Monty Waldin interviews Maria Sabrina Tedeschi from the Tedeschi winery in Valpolicella. Maria Sabrina shares her family’s extensive history in winemaking, dating back to the 17th century. She highlights how her father transformed the business by introducing the philosophy of single vineyards. Furthermore, she talks about promoting Valpolicella wines globally. She discusses the significant increase in Amarone production, from 2 million bottles in the 1990s to 16-19 million today, and the associated risks of saturation. Emphasizing quality over quantity, she explains how working in the hilly vineyards, despite higher costs, yields wines with superior complexity due to soil, climate, and ventilation. Maria Sabrina reflects on her journey back to the family business after teaching. She expresses the family’s hope for the next generation to continue their legacy. The conversation concludes with a strong emphasis on protecting and improving the image of the Valpolicella region, honoring the work of past generations.
Takeaways
- The Tedeschi winery boasts a rich winemaking history in Valpolicella since the 17th century, evolving from an Osteria to an internationally recognized winery.
- Maria Sabrina Tedeschi manages the winery as a family business, prioritizing quality over volume with 5 million bottles annually.
- Her father was a pioneer in Valpolicella, advocating for single-vineyard wines and celebrating their 50th anniversary of naming vineyards on labels.
- The dramatic increase in Amarone production (from 2 million to 16-19 million bottles since the 1990s) poses a significant risk of quality dilution.
- Producing wine in hilly areas, despite higher costs, yields superior quality due to better soil, climate, and ventilation, which the Tedeschi family prioritizes.
- Maria Sabrina Tedeschi has a background as a food technologist and teacher before joining the family business in 2000.
- The family is committed to preserving the heritage and improving the image of the entire Valpolicella region for future generations.
- They encourage the next generation to gain external knowledge and experience before potentially joining the family wine business.
Notable Quotes
- “My family is, in the wine business for, for many, many years.”
- “Valpolicella is my land. I have to keep Valpolicella on the label.”
- “The risk [of Amarone burning out] is quite high.”
- “The quality, the complexity of the wines is a totally different because of the soil, because of the climate… more flavors, more aromas, more structure, more volume of wines, and it is a Amarone.”
- “We have to protect what the past generation did for Valpolicella and that they did a lot.”
Related Topics or Follow-up Questions
- What specific measures are being taken industry-wide in Valpolicella to safeguard Amarone’s image and prevent over-saturation?
- How do climate change and sustainable viticulture practices impact the unique terroir of Valpolicella’s hillside vineyards?
- What are the key differences in winemaking philosophy and market approach between Valpolicella’s large producers and medium-sized family estates like Tedeschi?
- How does the Tedeschi family balance the preservation of tradition with the adoption of new technologies in their winemaking processes?
- What are the biggest challenges and opportunities for the next generation of Italian winemakers, particularly those inheriting family businesses?
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Until next time, Cin Cin!
