Grapes and Vineyards

Santa Sofia Winery

Grapes and vineyards

Here heaven and earth have always loved each other

Santa Sofia has been a reference point for classic wines in the province of Verona since 1811.The company has partly owned vineyards and partly makes use of historic conferents. Most of the vineyards are located in hilly areas, vineyards that, due to their age and location, can produce even in the most difficult years, in situations of drought or excessive rain.

Philosophy Santa Sofia in the vineyard

The agronomic management of the vineyards of the Briago estate has a sustainable and intelligent approach from the beginning, respecting the environment and biodiversity. We have always put at the center of the system the agronomist, who decides how to intervene on the cultivation environment using the available techniques to achieve the best corporate sustainability. The creation of an ecosystem-vineyard as varied and balanced as possible can allow to reduce the agronomic interventions necessary in terms of processing, fertilization, weed management and defense, preserving the quality of wines. The estate of Briago was chosen for its location, microclimate and context that allow a viticulture in harmony with the environment, with particular attention to preserving the great biodiversity of this place surrounded by woods and meadows. The real capital for a wine producer is fertile soil. Here natural biological processes can only be favoured and resource cycles largely closed. With organic nutrition, gentle soil processing and the renunciation of synthetic plant protection products, we will promote the large amount and diversity of organisms in the soil. These organisms improve fertility and structure, as well as prevent erosion.

The goal is to achieve a production process that leads to excellence in the quality of production in respect of the environment and human health.

Briago

Valpantena
45 hectares in the eastern Valpolicella, at a height between 400 and 490 m.a.s.l. in the southern part of Monti Lessini, surrounded by woods. Soils are mainly calcareous, with areas of stone, white marl (Biancone) and red limestone (Rosso Ammonitico Veronese). Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella are grown here, which ripening is influenced by the different temperature in summer between night and day and also by a phenology that is slower in the development in comparison to plants grown in the valley, which guarantees a continuous maturation and a balanced photosynthetic activity. Drought years with high temperatures are prevented thanks to a careful and specific irrigation that respects plants physiology. Biodiversity is respected thanks a sustainable management of the activities in the vineyards which do not involve the use of chemical herbicides.

Montegradella

Valpolicella Classica

24 hectares in Valpolicella Classica, comprehending 3 hectares for the production of the grapes for Gioè. The vineyards are located in the area at the north of Verona, between Fumane and Marano, they are mainly calcareous, with marl soils. Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella are grown here, taking advantage from southeast exposition, at 195 – 325 m.a.s.l. The management of the vineyard is based on sustainability and the choices in the field have as their objective the respect of the characteristics of the native grapes.

Montegradella’s vineyard is the best expression of Santa Sofia’s consistency of style, thanks to the exclusive use of native grapes to produce wines of Valpolicella denomination and an ideal position to grow grapes destined to the appassimento process.

The appassimento process, which is the natural slow drying of the grapes, develops in an healthier and faster way when the skin of the raisin is thicker.

This is only possible in vineyards with a good temperature variation between night and day and with a good ventilation. In fact, the name Montegradella comes from the perfect exposition to the sun during daytime, which reaches very high temperatures in summer, similar to those of a “gradela”, Verona’s dialectal word that refers to the grill used to cook on fire.

Lugana

Pozzolengo
6 hectares located in the southeast area of Lake of Garda, between 150 – 170 m.a.s.l. Vineyards in Pozzolengo are within the DOC, post glacial soils, mainly calcareous and rich in minerals, mostly hills. They have a looser composition in comparison to the valley surrounding Lake of Garda. Vineyard’s management focuses on specific actions under the racks, use of natural fertilizers, pruning which respects plant’s balance, as leaves thinning and summer pruning.