We were lucky to check out the invite-only Valpolicella Walk Around Tasting. We tried some amazing wines from 11 different Vini Valpolicella wineries. This region in Italy is famous for its fancy wines that are bursting with delicious smells and velvety textures.

There were so many vendors and families that were super passionate about these wines and who’ve been making them using the same traditions for centuries. It was also the first time in 5 years that the producers have come to Vancouver!

Our favourite was the Corte Figaretto. Corte Figaretto is a family-run farm in the heart of Valpantena, a valley situated north of Verona. In this southernly exposed valley lie its precious vineyards, suitable for the production of great red wines. The essentially Mediterranean climate, characterized by contained rainfall, is further tempered in the summer months by the evening breezes originating from the Lessinia mountains.

Our other favourite was Satori. Its vineyards are in an area, punctuated by wine, olive, and cherry trees, that for four generations has provided the background for the fortune of the Sartori di Verona family.
Our other favourite was Monte Zovo – Famiglia Cottin. The Cottini family has a long history of winemaking that goes back to the early 1900s. It all started when Carlo Cottini founded the family’s first farm in 1925. Back then, they grew not only vineyards but also other fruits such as cherries, plums, apricots, and olives. They even raised cattle! The company expanded by acquiring new lands in Valpolicella Orientale and Lugana, bringing their wines to international markets and making them the well-respected business they are today.

And of course, we ate all the food after all the wine!