Who makes it
Scriani farms hillside plots above the village of Fumane, at the geographical centre of Valpolicella Classica, and makes every bottle on site from its own grapes. Stefano Cottini, oenologist and owner, took over the family business in 1999 after it had been passed down through generations.
The producer's name reaches back further. Ancestors of the family worked as scribes, and the nickname Scriani, rooted in that trade, passed down through generations. The winery stands on Via Ponte Scrivan, a street that carries the same root word. Name and address share one etymology.
Where it grows
Fumane sits in the western arm of Valpolicella Classica, the original and most tightly defined zone of the appellation. The Fumane Valley is threaded by waterways and flanked by hillsides, with an elevation and aspect that give the native red varieties a longer, cooler growing season than the flatter, warmer plains further east. That coolness holds acidity in Corvina and allows Rondinella and Molinara to ripen without losing freshness.
Valpolicella Classica is an appellation, not merely a style description. Wine labelled Valpolicella Classico must come from this original hill zone; wines from the expanded eastern Valpolicella area carry the appellation without the Classico designation. The distinction matters on the label and in the glass.
How it is made
The cellar
Scriani's Fumane parcels are managed through the full seasonal cycle: planting, irrigation, pruning, and hand harvest. The hillside rows receive a cool breeze that slows ripening and keeps disease pressure low, which matters most for the Amarone and Recioto fruit, where grapes must reach the drying lofts in sound condition.
The Valpolicella Superiore uses red-wine vinification with approximately 15 days of skin maceration and fermentation at natural temperatures. Maturation, bottling, labelling, and sale all take place on the estate.
What they make
The Valpolicella range runs across five appellations and two styles of fruit preparation. Entry-level Valpolicella DOC Classico uses fresh grapes and targets immediate drinking: lighter in body, with the sour cherry and herb character typical of Corvina-led blends from the Classica hills.
The producer describes it as deep ruby, savoury, and harmonious, with an intense bouquet.
Wines to try
First bottle
Start with the Carpanè.