Winery / Producer: Tenuta Sant'Antonio (Castagnedi Brothers).

Region of Origin: D.O.C. Valpolicella Superiore, Mezzane di Sotto, Verona, Italy.

Specific Vineyard: La Bandina (Single plot at 350 meters altitude, with white limestone-rich soils and excellent sun exposure).

Grape Varieties: Corvina and Corvinone (70%), Rondinella (20%), Croatina and Oseleta (10%).

Wine Type: High-end single vineyard / Cru still red wine.

Sweetness Classification: Dry.

Vinification and Aging: Strictly manual harvest in small crates with double cluster selection. Controlled maceration and fermentation at constant temperature in stainless steel tanks with daily punch-downs. After complete malolactic fermentation, the wine undergoes a noble and prolonged aging of 18 to 24 months in 500-liter new French oak barrels, providing superb roundness, tannic stability, and legendary aromatic finesse before its final rest in bottle.

Alcohol Content: 14.5% Vol.

Serving Temperature: 16°C - 18°C.

SKU / MPN: IT-TSA-LA-BANDINA-750ML

Appearance: Exhibits an imposing deep ruby red color, with great depth, clean, and with majestic garnet reflections at the rim that reveal its excellent concentration.

Nose: An aristocratic, complex, and deeply evocative bouquet. Rich notes of ripe sun-drenched black and red fruits, black cherry compote, plums, and blueberries unfold, masterfully intertwined with spicy notes of pepper, cinnamon, and licorice. On a second layer, subtle hints of pipe tobacco, bitter cocoa, roasted coffee, and mineral notes of crushed limestone emerge.

Palate: Superb entry, broad, warm, and opulent. On the palate, it is strictly dry, enveloping the taste buds with a sumptuous texture and velvety noble wood tannins of perfect integration. Its vibrant acidity balances the magnificent concentration of fruit and alcohol. The finish is extraordinarily long, elegant, and balsamic, leaving an unforgettable aftertaste of baked black fruits and sweet spices.

Precision Gourmet Pairing: La Bandina's immense sumptuousness, dry profile, and structured architecture make it an essential label for fine dining. It harmonizes sublimely with premium red meat cuts (such as a filet mignon, Rib Eye, or aged Tomahawk) grilled or barbecued. It is the ideal companion for slow-cooked game meats (such as wild boar or venison stew), oxtail in red wine, roasted suckling lamb, and duck in black fruit sauces. It pairs exquisitely with great Italian culinary classics such as risotto with black truffle, fresh pasta with venison ragù, and intense long-aged cheeses (Parmigiano Reggiano, aged Pecorino, aged Asiago, or Gorgonzola).

Suggested Moments:

• Business (High-Caliber Dinners): An exclusive Cru wine ideal for impressing strategic partners, executives, or high-level clients, projecting distinction, prestige, and refined oenological culture.
• Special Celebration: The definitive red to commemorate life's great milestones: significant anniversaries, silver weddings, notable corporate achievements, or private gala dinners.
• The Perfect Gift (For Collectors): A stately gift with great prestige. Ideal for sommeliers, connoisseurs, and Old World lovers who appreciate the finesse of single-vineyard reds with great aging potential.
• Gourmet BBQ (Signature Pairing): The perfect complement for an afternoon of select barbecued meats, majestically cleansing the palate against fatty and intense cuts prepared with aromatic woods.
• Distinguished Family Meal: To grace family tables during significant festivities, transforming a meal into a memorable banquet around hearty traditional dishes.

What is the specific origin and winery of this red wine?

This exceptional red belongs to the exclusive high-end range of the prestigious Tenuta Sant'Antonio winery, managed by the Castagnedi brothers. Its specific origin is the unique 'La Bandina' vineyard, located on the calcareous slopes of the municipality of Mezzane di Sotto in the province of Verona, within the D.O.C. Valpolicella Superiore in Veneto, Italy.

Is this wine dry, semi-dry, or sweet?

La Bandina Valpolicella Superiore is a strictly dry wine. It possesses extremely ripe fruitiness and an enveloping glyceric richness that gives it sumptuousness on the palate, but the wine undergoes complete fermentation, resulting in a clean, opulent, and completely free of residual sugars finish.

What distinguishes La Bandina from a traditional Valpolicella?

Unlike common Valpolicella, which is usually light and for quick consumption, La Bandina comes from a Cru vineyard with selected vines, has a higher natural alcohol content and concentration, and undergoes a noble and prolonged aging in new French oak for nearly two years, giving it a structural complexity comparable to the great wines of the world.

Does it require decanting and what is its aging potential in a cellar?

Being a wine of great concentration and structural finesse, it is highly recommended to decant it at least 45 to 60 minutes before serving so that its full mineral, fruity, and spicy bouquet can open up. Its aging potential is magnificent, being able to evolve extraordinarily in the bottle over the next 8 to 12 years under ideal storage conditions.