Valpolicella Superiore 2021, Zenato

The 2021 Valpolicella Superiore from Zenato is a polished, classic expression of the region, built from Corvina Veronese, Rondinella, and a small amount of Corvinone.

In the glass, this is a red that feels both easy to like and serious enough to hold your attention. There is plenty of juicy dark cherry and plum here, but also a gentle savory edge, a little floral lift, and just enough spice from oak to keep things interesting without turning the wine into a lumberyard. The texture is supple, the acidity stays fresh, and the finish has the kind of quiet persistence that makes you reach for another sip before you realize it. This is a natural fit with pasta alla Bolognese, grilled sausages, roast chicken, mushroom risotto, or a wedge of aged Monte Veronese.

About the Winery

Zenato is one of the benchmark names of the Veneto, with deep roots in both Lugana and Valpolicella. The estate describes its work as spanning Lugana, the heart of Valpolicella, and Bolgheri, with a family tradition that has been championing local varieties for more than 60 years.

What has made Zenato endure is not just scale or recognition, but clarity of style. The winery has built its reputation on wines that are unmistakably of place while still feeling polished and complete. In Valpolicella, that means preserving the brightness and typicity of the historic grapes while using élevage with restraint, so freshness and structure stay in balance. Zenato’s own description of its Valpolicella Superiore emphasizes authenticity, refined balance, cherry-toned fruit, and oak used to add spice rather than weight.

That approach is part of why the winery remains so relevant: these are not caricatures of Veneto wine. They are confident, regionally rooted bottlings that deliver both familiarity and precision. Zenato knows how to make wines that feel traditional without feeling stuck, and that is a harder trick than a lot of producers would like to admit.