Lessini Durello DOC

Seven centuries of history for the viticulture of the Lessini Mountains are a milestone that strongly underlines how much man has always been attentive to the fate of the vineyard in this high hilly area, between the provinces of Verona and Vicenza in the Monti area. Lessini. Here the main vine is Durella, almost an exclusive variety of the area, descending from Durasena mentioned in the 1290 Costzza Statutes. It is a white grape variety with a winged and compact bunch. The name derives from the hardness or compactness of the skin and from the high total acidity that characterizes the wine, allowing a high longevityand excellent results with sparkling wine. Historical documents on the agriculture of the Lessini Mountains often highlight the phrase “Terra cum vineis”, a plot of land cultivated entirely with vines. In the period between the Middle Ages and the early nineteenth century, viticulture and enology in the provinces of Verona and Vicenza, and thus in the Apone and Agno-Chiampo areas, remained at the basic technical levels that had been determined. in the Middle Ages.
Born with Ministerial Decree 25/06/1987 (GU n. 6 of 09/01/1988), within the DOC denomination of origin “Lessini and Durello”, the international success achieved in recent decades by Durello wine, has led in 2009 the producers to apply for the recognition of “Lessini Durello” as an autonomous denomination, obtained by the Ministry with DPR 17/07/2001 GU 13/08/2001 in order to make the most of the peculiarities of this wine.
The Lessini Durello Protection Consortium , recognized by the National Ministry in November 2000, works to enhance the denominations of the area and their productive and socio-economic reality of the Veronese and Vicentine Valleys which fall within the area of ​​the production specification.The producers of the denomination , together with the Consortium, have refined the technique of sparkling wine making of Lessini Durello obtaining a prestigious role in the context of Venetian sparkling wine.
The DOC Lessini Durello wine obtained the recognition of the Controlled Designation of Origin on November 8, 2011.

Territory

The geographical area dedicated to the production of DOC Lessini Durello wine extends over the hills of the Lessini Mountains, in an area that is adequately ventilated, bright and favorable to the fulfillment of all the vegetative-productive functions of the vineyards.
The Production Area of DOC Lessini Durello Wine is located in:
– province of Verona and includes the territory of the municipalities of Vestenanova, San Giovanni Ilarione and part of the territory of the municipalities of: Montecchia di Crosara, Roncà, Cazzano di Tramigna, Tregnago and Badia Calavena.
– province of Vicenza and includes the territory of the municipalities of Arzignano, Castelgomberto, Chiampo, Brogliano, Gambugliano, Trissino and part of the territory of the municipalities of Cornedo, Costabissara, Gambellara, Isola Vicentina, Malo, Marano Vicentino, Monte di Malo, Montebello Vicentino, Montecchio Maggiore, Montorso Vicentino, Nogarole Vicentino, San Vito di Leguzzano, Schio and Zermeghedo.

Vinification and Aging

During the vinification phases, only loyal and constant oenological practices of the area are allowed, suitable to give the wines their particular quality characteristics.
The winemaking practices of DOC Lessini Durello wine include, among other things, that:
– The maximum yield of grapes into DOC Lessini Durello wine must not exceed 70%; if these parameters are exceeded within the limit of 5%, the excess will not be entitled to the DOC. Beyond these limits the right to DOC for the whole product lapses.
– The DOC Lessini Durello Spumante wine must be obtained exclusively by natural fermentation in an autoclave ( Charmat or Martinotti method) . This wine can be marketed in the extrabrut, brut, extra dry, dry and demisec types.
– The DOC Lessini Durello Spumante Riserva wine must be obtained exclusively by natural fermentation in the bottle (Classic Method) with the wine remaining on the lees for at least 36 months.
– In the designation of DOC Lessini Durello wines, the term ” Vigna ” may be mentioned as long as it is followed by the relative toponym and certain winemaking practices are respected.
– On the labels of each type of DOC Lessini Durello wine it is mandatory to report the year of production of the grapes.