Pra Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore Morandina 2021

Prà Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore Morandina 2021 is a refined, modern expression of one of Veneto’s most beloved styles. Crafted from organically farmed hillside vineyards, it combines the intensity of the Ripasso method with the elegance and freshness that Graziano Prà is famous for. This is a Ripasso for those who enjoy depth and richness, but prefer precision over heaviness. Made from a classic blend of Corvina, Corvinone, Oseleta and Rondinella, the wine undergoes a second fermentation on the dried grape skins used for Amarone, lending extra concentration, spice and complexity. The Morandina vineyard, perched on higher, cooler slopes with volcanic soils, brings structure and tension to a style traditionally known for opulence. Ripasso itself has deep roots in Valpolicella history, once a clever way for growers to enhance their simpler wines—today elevated by top producers like Prà into a serious, ageworthy red.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2021 Morandina Ripasso shows a deep, vibrant ruby red with garnet highlights towards the rim. The nose opens with pure, lifted aromas of sour and black cherry, ripe plum and wild berries, followed by layers of dried rose, sweet spice, cocoa, tobacco leaf and a hint of dried herbs and black tea. Subtle notes of vanilla and toasted oak are well-integrated, never overpowering the fruit. On the palate, this is medium to full-bodied but beautifully balanced, with juicy, vivid red and black cherry at its core. The Ripasso process adds a velvety texture and darker tones of dried fruit, chocolate and baking spice, while the high-altitude Morandina vineyard brings fresh acidity and fine, chalky tannins. There’s a gentle warmth, but the wine remains agile and refined rather than heavy. The finish is long and savory, with notes of cherry, licorice, cocoa and a touch of graphite minerality. Enjoyable now with a brief air, it has the structure and acidity to develop nicely over 6–10 years from the vintage, gaining more complexity and tertiary notes of leather, forest floor and dried figs.

Production
Morandina is sourced from Prà’s high-altitude vineyards in the eastern Valpolicella hills of Veneto, near the border with Soave. These steep slopes sit on predominantly volcanic and basaltic soils, which naturally limit yields and lend the wine its characteristic tension, minerality and aromatic lift. The vines are farmed organically, with careful canopy management and strict selection to ensure optimal ripeness while preserving acidity. Grapes are hand-harvested, sorted in the vineyard and again at the winery to retain only the healthiest bunches. After an initial fermentation, the young Valpolicella wine is “re-passed” over the still-warm Amarone pomace from dried grapes, triggering a second fermentation that deepens color, texture and flavor. The wine then ages in a combination of large oak casks and/or barrels (depending on the vintage regime) to refine the tannins, integrate the oak and preserve the purity of fruit before bottling.

Food & Serving
This Ripasso is a versatile food wine, ideal with richly flavored dishes. It pairs beautifully with slow-braised beef, osso buco, lamb shank, roasted pork, game birds, and hearty stews. It also complements aged hard cheeses (such as Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano), pecorino, mushroom risottos, ragù-based pastas and wood-fired pizzas with sausage or cured meats. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) to highlight its aromatics and freshness. Decanting for 30–60 minutes is recommended, especially in its youth, to allow the wine to open fully and soften the tannins.

Producer
Graziano Prà is one of Veneto’s most respected contemporary winemakers, originally acclaimed for redefining the quality of Soave with his focus on volcanic terroir, old vines and meticulous vineyard work. The estate, based in Monteforte d’Alpone, has been family-farmed for generations, but it was Graziano who, from the 1980s onward, pushed a quiet revolution toward lower yields, organic practices and a precise, terroir-driven style. Building on his success in white wines, he expanded into Valpolicella with the Morandina project, applying the same philosophy of purity, elegance and site expression to red varieties. Today, Prà is widely regarded as a benchmark producer in the region, with numerous high scores and international accolades, and his Morandina wines are seen as among the most finely tuned, modern interpretations of Valpolicella and Ripasso.

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