Ca' La Bionda, Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOC, Casalvegri

The province of Verona's Valgatara Marano is home to the C La Bionda Winery. This tiny community of 3,000 people is situated in one of the Italian regions best suited for the creation of excellent red wines: Valpolicella, 18 kilometres from the provincial capital. Piero Castellani started growing grapes and making wine on the farm, which led to the establishment of the winery in 1902. A different Piero Castellani, the company's namesake and the founder's great-grandson, now successfully runs the business. The 29 hectares of vineyards are mostly planted on limestone and clay soils and are 150 to 300 metres above sea level. The grapes ripen more quickly because they face south and southeast.