MENU

TENUTA SANT'ANTONIO

VENETO

TENUTA SANT'ANTONIO

VENETO



VISIT WINERY WEBSITE


DOWNLOADS WINERY BIO


SHELF TALKERS

BUILD SHELF TALKER

ABOUT THE WINERY

Most of the historic producers of Valpolicella are located on the western side of the denomination, but the Valpolicella district stretches east across several hills and valleys almost to Soave, and it is in this eastern zone that some new, exciting, and innovative wineries have been established in recent decades. The soils in the eastern Valpolicella have a higher component of calcium carbonate, which imparts a higher acidity and bolder cherry fruit character to the wines. 

Antonio Castagnedi was a winegrower in the Illasi Valley of eastern Valpolicella in the late 20th century who left 50 acres of vineyards to his four sons. The brothers Armando, Tiziano, Paolo, and Massimo worked as consultants for other wine estates in Italy and continued to grow grapes on their inherited land in Colognola ai Colli, but had bigger dreams. In 1989, they took the next step, buying another 75 acres of top-quality vineyard land on the high terrain of Monti Garbi (also in eastern Valpolicella) and making the leap into wine production as a family. The first vintage of Tenuta Sant’Antonio came in 1995. 

Tenuta Sant’Antonio Valpolicellas are made from 100% estate-grown fruit from the Illasi Valley and Monti Garbi. With their considerable combined winegrowing experience, the Castagnedi brothers devote meticulous attention to their high-density, low-yield vineyards to provide grapes of such exceptional quality that they require minimal intervention during winemaking. At harvest time, the grapes for Amarone are harvested on a first pass through the vineyards, and those for the regular Valpolicella are harvested on the second pass. In this way, the basic Valpolicella gets a portion of the best grapes and is an exceptional value for the price. Also, because the Amarone is harvested earlier, the grapes’ sugar level is lower, so the alcohol level of the Amarone is not excessive. This strategy also dictates that Tenuta Sant’Antonio makes Amarone only in years when the overall harvest quality is high enough to support making the full Valpolicella lineup.

READ MORE

DOWNLOADS WINERY BIO


SHELF TALKERS

BUILD SHELF TALKER
WINERY LOCATION: Lavagno (Verona province), Veneto
REGION: Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG, Valpolicella DOC, Valpolicella Ripasso DOC
VINEYARD LAND: 247 acres (100 ha)
FARMING PRACTICES: Sustainable
GRAPE VARIETIES: Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella with small amounts of Croatina and Oseleta
WINE STYLES: Dry red; sweet dessert
TOTAL WINE PRODUCTION: 700,000 bottles (525,000 liters)
YEAR FOUNDED: 1995
OWNER(S): Armando, Tiziano, Paolo, and Massimo Castagnedi
WINEMAKER(S): Paolo Castagnedi

WINES

TENUTA SANT'ANTONIO “NANFRÈ” VALPOLICELLA DOC

Nanfrè is Tenuta Sant'Antonio's young Valpolicella wine. It incorporates no dried grapes and uses no oak.  The winery's recent decision to stop producing the Nanfrè as s Valpolicella Superiore allows them to maintain lower alcohol levels, more vibrant fruit and lively freshness.  Nanfrè is the name of a hamlet in the commune of Illasi, the name of a vineyard and also the nickname of the previous owner of that vineyard (short for Gianfranco).

TENUTA SANT'ANTONIO “MONTI GARBI” VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO SUPERIORE DOC

Tenuta Sant'Antonio's Monti Garbi is a versatile wine that falls in between the winery’s Nanfrè Valpolicella and its Amarones in style. Ripasso is a traditional and fairly unique style of wine in which standard Valpolicella wine has undergone a second fermentation in the presence of pressed Amarone grape skins, which adds body and complexity. Monti Garbi starts with superiore-level grapes, which results in an even more robust wine. The name Monti Garbi comes from a vineyard in Mezzane di Sotto in the eastern part of Valpolicella. Monti means "hills," and Garbi is Venetian dialect for "rugged, arid, and poor," which describes the poor calcareous and chalky soil of the vineyard.

TENUTA SANT’ANTONIO “ANTONIO CASTAGNEDI” AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA DOCG

Amarone della Valpolicella is the most prestigious red wine of Veneto, and the four brothers who started Tenuta Sant'Antonio dedicate their primary Amarone to their father, Antonio Castagnedi. The best grapes from different vineyards are selected for this wine and are brought to the winery's drying room to undergo the appassimento process. After at least 3 months of drying, the grapes have shriveled and lost much of their water, while retaining their sugar, flavor, and other components. Once fermented and aged in new barrels, the Amarone is a powerful wine, yet fruity, fresh, and clean.

TENUTA SANT’ANTONIO "CAMPO DEI GIGLI" AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA DOCG

Campo dei Gigli is Tenuta Sant'Antonio's most important vineyard, the source of the winery's flagship Amarone della Valpolicella wine. In the traditional fashion, the grapes from this vineyard are taken to the winery's drying room for at least 3 months to allow water to evaporate. The raisinated grapes have a high ratio of solids to water and create an Amarone with a classic style, concentrated and with balsamic notes. The vineyard name means "field of lilies," the flower symbol of the winery.

TENUTA SANT’ANTONIO “ARGILLE BIANCHE” RECIOTO DELLA VALPOLICELLA DOCG

Recioto della Valpolicella is one of the classic dessert wines of Italy. Tenuta Sant’Antonio Argille Bianche is produced with the same grapes and techniques of Amarone, except that the fermentation of the dried grapes is stopped while a large amount of sugar remains in the wine. The result is a wine that is very sweet and a bit tannic. It’s a “meditation wine” that Tenuta Sant’Antonio produces only in the top vintages. Argille bianche means “white clays,” referring to the soils in the vineyards here.

LOCATION


WINERY:
Lavagno (Verona province), Veneto

VINEYARD:
Eastern Valpolicella and Soave areas, Veneto

VIEW IN GOOGLE MAPS

REGION DETAILS

FEATURED
PRESS

NEWS AND REVIEWS FROM OUR FRIENDS IN THE INDUSTRY



VIEW ALL REVIEWS
91
AUGUST 2023
Tenuta Sant’Antonio “Antonio Castagnedi” Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2018

Dried cherry, dried cranberry, star anise, clove and a hint of pepper open the nose of this well-crafted Amarone. Soft and plush on the palate, highlighting dried cherry and loads of baking spices, the wine begins to reveal turned earth, bitter chocolate and floral notes as it opens. It’s really well-structured, with elegant tannins and the needed acidity to keep the wine in balance.

93
JUNE 2021
Tenuta Sant’Antonio “Antonio Castagnedi” Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2017

Intense dried cranberry and steely blackcurrant on the nose. Balsamic, dried-herb and licoricy oak, too. Full and very concentrated on the palate with a focused, flavorful drive of spicy fruit and well-integrated tannins that pushes on and on. Tempting now, but best from 2023.

93
JUNE 2021
Tenuta Sant’Antonio "Campo dei Gigli" Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2016

Very potent aromas of blackcurrants and toasted oak with hints of eucalyptus and black-cherry liqueur, following through to a full palate with firm tannins that drive the fruit on through the long finish. There’s a kind of raw, almost rough-and-ready character to this that’s a bit hard work now. Will even out with bottle age. One for the cellar. Try from 2024.

94
FEBRUARY 2024
Tenuta Sant’Antonio “Antonio Castagnedi” Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2019

The 2019 Amarone della Valpolicella Antonio Castagnedi is darkly alluring, with a seductive blend of black cherries and crushed violet candies giving way to a dusting of cocoa. This is silky smooth, nearly creamy yet lifted in feel, with ripe red fruits contrasted by a tinge of bitter balsamic spice. This tapers off with youthful tension, leaving a coating of grippy tannins that are nicely offset by a bump of residual acidity. There’s lovely balance within the 2019 that makes this an excellent option for the dinner table but will also promote aging. It clocks in at just 15% alcohol as well. Gorgeous.

92+
MARCH 2023
Tenuta Sant'Antonio “Monti Garbi” Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC 2020

The 2020 Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso Monti Garbi is wickedly spice and intense, opening with a whiff of crushed ashen stone and smokey black cherries. Its textures are silky and pure, with a savory mix of sour wild berries and salty mineral tones. This finishes with tremendous length yet energetic, leaving black currant and mocha hints to linger.

95
FEBRUARY 2024
Tenuta Sant’Antonio "Campo dei Gigli" Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2018

Remarkably pretty, yet dark and intense, the 2018 Amarone della Valpolicella Campo dei Gigli bursts from the glass with dusty notes of dried roses, balsamic spice, tobacco, dark chocolate and dried black cherries. Seamless and elegant in style, this envelops the palate with ripe red and blue fruits, taking on a bitter tinge of mocha and espresso toward the close. It finishes long and staining, with a coating of fine-grained tannins that adds a classically dry impression while minty herbal tones maintain freshness. This transcends the 2018 vintage, yet patience will be required.

92
FEBRUARY 2024
Tenuta Sant'Antonio “Monti Garbi” Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC 2021

The 2021 Valpolicella Ripasso Monti Garbi is dark and attractive, with a blend of dusty dried flowers, exotic spices and dried black cherries smoldering up from the glass. This displays silky textures, balancing ripe wild berry fruits against saline minerals and a bitter tinge of sour orange. It tapers off long, leaving the mouth watering for more as rosy inner florals and hints of tart raspberry slowly fade. The savory Ripasso possesses a balance seldom seen.

91
JANUARY 2021
Tenuta Sant’Antonio “Antonio Castagnedi” Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2016

Notes of grilled game and tobacco balance this wine’s rich flavors of baked cherry, molten chocolate and licorice. Dark spices offset those flavors, and lively acidity cools the finish.