Soul of the D.O.C. “Lessini Durello” is the Durella vine, an autochthonous vine whose presence in the territory dates back to prehistoric times, as testified by the Ampelidee vine fossils, ancestors of the current Vitis Vinifera, which were found in Vestenanova di Bolca in the high Alpone valley. A full-scale historical documentation has enabled us to trace its presence back at least two centuries, if one considers as valid the identification of Durello as the ancient “Occhio di Pernice” grapes mentioned by scholars such as Alcantie Maccà in around 1750. According to some testimonies, however, Durello dates back even to the 13th century, identifying the current Durello as the “Durasena” mentioned in the Statute of the community of Costozza in 1292. Coming back to a more modern era, we can find evidence of the spread of the vine in its current area of production in the writings of historians such as Count Giulio da Schio who describes Durello, a vine capable of giving “sugary grapes”, as quite widespread on the Arzignano hills. The Lessini area is a hilly and mountainous zone that embraces two provinces: Verona and Vicenza. The D.O.C. “Lessini Durello” was founded in 1987 to safeguard a wine obtained in prevalence from vines authentically typical of these lands (DPR of 25.06.1987, which entered into force after its publication in the Official Gazette 01.09.1988). After 10 years of “denomination”, producers of Lessini Durello were gathered under the single flag of the “Consorzio di Tutela”: by Decree of the Ministry of national agriculture and agro-industrial policies of 7th November 2000 the statute of the Consortium for the protection of the wine “Lessini Durello” D.O.C. was approved, and the task of performing the functions of protection, enhancement and general care of the interests related to the Denomination of Controlled Origin was conferred. The area of production, which extends over about 20,000 hectares, includes in the province of Verona the entire territory of the municipalities of Vestenanova and San Giovanni Ilarione, parts of the municipalities of Montecchia di Crosara, Roncà, Cazzano di Tramigna, Tregnago, and Badia Calavena; in the province of Vicenza, the entire territory of the municipalities of Arzignano, Castelgomber to, Chiampo, Brogliano, Gambugliano, Trissino, and parts of the municipalities of Cornedo, Costabissara, Gambellara, Isola Vicentina, Malo, Marano Vicentino, Montecchio Maggiore, Montorso Vicentino, Nogarole Vicentino, S. Vito di Leguzzano, Schio, and Zermeghedo.
Whoever uncorks a bottle of Lessini Durello D.O.C., always finds a fresh, enjoyable sparkling wine full of character, with an aroma of Renetta apple and yellow citrus fruit, great minerality which is a feature of volcanic terroir wines and a typical tannic texture that is quite unique among white wines, that makes its perlage particularly appetising. The two versions in which it is produced make this wine suitable for the various occasions and it is not difficult to make a good choice: Lessini Durello D.O.C. Italian/Charmat Method if you are looking for a more mellow taste and a fresher and brighter aromatic feature, or Lessini Durello D.O.C. Classic Method if you prefer a wine with a more important structure and more complex aromatic features. The Lessini Durello denomination was created in order to guarantee specific protection to the autochthonous Spumante wines that are the treasure of the territory and its ambassadors around the world. There are however other wines produced in the valleys that have another denomination of origin: Monti Lessini. It includes first and foremost the Monte Lessini Durello D.O.C., the traditional version of the Durello that is not sparkled, although it has all the grit, the dynamism and character that make this wine unique: a pleasantly acidic structure, a forthright volcanic minerality and a tannic body that make it a well structured white with excellent prospects of aging. The Durella grapes could not miss the secular tradition of the withering and this has led to the birth of a non-conventional Monte Lessini Durello Passito D.O.C. Golden yellow with an intense bouquet of sweet fruit and honey, immediately fresh, vibrant with a soft astringency: cast in its dynamic and iridescent dimension of the conversation. Obviously other local and international cultivars can be found together with the autochthonous Durella in the Lessini mountains: Garganega, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio e Pinot Nero, vines that have settled in areas where they can fully express the characteristics of their variety, though with a strong territorial quality. All these varieties may be classified as Monti Lessini Bianco DOC, according to the interpretation that each producer gives to the terroir, and can be either, fresh and fruity or of greater structure and complexity. This is the reason that has led us to label the wines with only the name of the territory: the common denominator of all the Monti Lessini wines. The Monti Lessini Pinot Nero DOC comes from a very different vine from Durella, but very similar in some respects. Pinot Nero is in fact preeminently a wine with a personality that is far from conventional. It could be for this reason that many producers of Durello have fallen in love with it and have embarked on this challenge with the pungent scent of wild berries.
Durella is a vine of good vigour, resistance to diseases, and capacity to adapt to claylimestone soils of volcanic origin. The grape bunches are of medium-size, pyramidal and compacted shape, often equipped with a wing. The berries have a rather thick and leathery skin (from which most probably derives the name of the vine) and are tannic. A characteristic peculiarity of the Durello wine, thanks to the high percentage of malic acid and lively G R A P E S total acidity, is its remarkable vocation for fermentation into sparkling wine, both with the classic method of refermentation in the bottle and with the Charmat method. The D.O.C. oversees a cultivation area of 460 hectares (from about 530 overall) with an annual production of 85,000 quintals of grapes. There are about 500 companies involved in cultivating Durello, and about 10 bottling the wine.
Colour: straw-like yellow
Bouquet: vinoso, profumo delicato e caratteristico Sapore: asciutto, fresco e talvolta vivace;
Alcoholic Strength minimum total volume: 10,50%
Serving Temperature: 12°;
Accompaniments: aperitivi, antipasti.
Colour: straw-like yellow, with greenish reflections
Bouquet: vinoso, profumo delicato e caratteristico, lievemente fruttato;
Taste: acidulo, fresco, caratteristico;
Alcoholic Strength minimum total volume: 11,00%
Serving Temperature: 8°-10°;
Accompaniments: aperitivi, antipasti, pesce.
Colour: giallo dorato;
Bouquet: vinoso intenso e di fruttato;
Taste: amabile, vellutato, armonico , di corpo, con eventuale percezione di legno;
Alcoholic Strength minimum total volume: 14% vol.; (11,5% vol. svolto);
Serving Temperature: 12°;
Accompaniments: dessert, dolci secchi, pasticceria.
Colour: giallo paglierino più o meno carico, Profumo: fiori e frutta bianca;
Taste: fresco, sapido e armonico;
Alcoholic Strength minimum total volume: 11,50%
Serving Temperature: 12°;
Accompaniments: antipasti, primi, risotti.