{"title":"Societa' Agricola il Sasso","description":"\u003cp\u003eValpolicella has long been defined by its most concentrated expressions -- Amarone, Ripasso, wines that derive their power from dried grapes and long oak aging. Stefano Bellamoli of Societa Agricola Il Sasso is working from a different premise entirely.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIl Sasso sits at 300 meters above sea level in the Montericco district of Negrar, in the heart of historic Valpolicella Classico. The 10-hectare estate occupies south-facing terraces carved into rocky calcarenite soil -- the yellowish limestone that gives the area its characteristic drainage and mineral tension. Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella are planted in Guyot training, following the site's natural contours.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMore on how they farm and work in the cellar in our \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/natural-wine-producers-primal-wine\/societa-agricola-il-sasso\"\u003eSocieta' Agricola il Sasso producer profile\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"il-valpolicella-societa-agricola-il-sasso-veneto-natural-wine-italy","title":"Societa' Agricola il Sasso Il Valpolicella 2017","description":"\u003cp\u003eSocieta' Agricola Il Sasso is Stefano Bellamoli's 10-hectare estate in Montricco di Negrar, in the heart of Valpolicella's Classico zone, northwest of Verona. The vineyard sits at 300 meters above sea level on south-facing terraces, with just a few centimeters of topsoil over calcarenite gialla, a soft yellow limestone characteristic of these hills. The blend is 45% Corvina, 35% Corvinone, and 20% Rondinella, all hand-harvested.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFermentation is triggered with a pied-de-cuve of the same grapes using only indigenous yeasts. The 2017 includes approximately 30% whole-cluster fruit. Aging takes place in stainless steel with no wood contact at any stage. The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal added sulfur.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 2017 opens with dark red fruit, black pepper, and tobacco, with a vegetal thread running through that keeps the nose lively. The palate is lean and fresh with approachable tannins and the characteristic bitter-cherry snap of Corvina. It drinks more like a structured cru Beaujolais than the oak-driven Valpolicella that dominated the region for decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBellamoli farms organically, using green manure and replanting of native species between the vine rows to support soil health and biodiversity. No herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, or fining agents are used in vineyard or cellar.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Societa' Agricola il Sasso","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":32198533546077,"sku":"SASSVALP17C","price":37.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0019\/3363\/9735\/products\/agricola-il-sasso-il-valpolicella-natural-wine-primal-wine.jpg?v=1626238312"}],"url":"https:\/\/primalwine.com\/collections\/societa-agricola-il-sasso.oembed","provider":"Primal Wine","version":"1.0","type":"link"}