2023 R Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso, Alpha Zeta

• Style: Ripasso, full-bodied red
• Taste: Dried cherry, ripe red fruit, refined tannin grip
• Food: Grilled meats, braises, aged cheese, pasta
• Occasion: Weeknight, Sunday lunch
• Serve: 16–18°C, 13.5% ABV

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Ruby-dark with aromas of ripe red fruit and dried cherries, this ripasso delivers cherry-pie richness balanced by refined tannin grip. The palate shows concentrated, full-bodied fruit without heaviness, finishing with a bitter-cherry snap and lasting length that keeps you coming back for another sip.

The Winery — Alpha Zeta

Founded in 1999, Alpha Zeta emerged from a simple but radical idea: bypass bulk-wine trading and work directly with growers in the hills outside Verona. Under the direction of New Zealand winemaker Matt Thomson, the house pioneered lower yields and later picking to unlock riper, more expressive fruit. The 2023 vintage challenged the region with heat, drought, and hailstorms, yet slow ripening during cool nights allowed the grapes to develop full personality while preserving acidity and freshness. Aged in oak to build body and depth, this wine refuses to be heavy—a hallmark of modern Veronese technique refined by direct-partnership integrity.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

At 13.5% alcohol, this wine is balanced and food-friendly. Serve it chilled (16–18°C) with grilled meats, braised dishes, roast dinners, or robust pasta. The chalky soils and cool Dolomite breezes of the Valpantena Valley—where vineyards sit 200–300 metres up—reward the vines' effort with superior fruit quality that shines alongside aged cheeses like Grana Padano or Gorgonzola, and game. Explore our Corvina & Corvinone selection to discover how this blend defines the region, and venture into Veneto's finest reds. Browse Italy's regions to see what modern thinking brings to centuries of winemaking tradition.