High in the hills of the upper Val Squaranto near Trezzolano, just minutes north of Verona, Torre di Terzolan stands as one of Valpolicella’s most evocative small estates. Housed within a 15th-century former hunting lodge, the winery sits at 350 metres above sea level, surrounded by a rich mosaic of vineyards, meadows, woodlands, and olive trees. It’s a landscape deeply rooted in history, biodiversity, and traditional land stewardship. Winemaker and proprietor Roberta produced her first vintage here in 2015, though hail damage delayed her inaugural commercial vintage to 2016. The estate cultivates 2.5 hectares of vineyards across four plots: La Mezzaluna, La Pala, Il Binte, and Il Brolo. Certified organic since 2020, production is limited to 13,000 bottles per year between three labels (Amarone, Valpolicella Superiore and Valpolicella), carefully crafted from indigenous Valpolicella varieties: Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Croatina. High in the hills of the upper Val Squaranto near Trezzolano, just minutes north of Verona, Torre di Terzolan stands as one of Valpolicella’s most evocative small estates. Housed within a 15th-century former hunting lodge, the winery sits at 350 metres above sea level, surrounded by a rich mosaic of vineyards, meadows, woodlands, and olive trees. It’s a landscape deeply rooted in history, biodiversity, and traditional land stewardship. Winemaker and proprietor Roberta produced her first vintage here in 2015, though hail damage delayed her inaugural commercial vintage to 2016. The estate cultivates 2.5 hectares of vineyards across four plots: La Mezzaluna, La Pala, Il Binte, and Il Brolo. Certified organic since 2020, production is limited to 13,000 bottles per year between three labels (Amarone, Valpolicella Superiore and Valpolicella), carefully crafted from indigenous Valpolicella varieties: Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Croatina. Torre di Terzolan Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2020 High in the hills of the upper Val Squaranto near Trezzolano, just minutes north of Verona, Torre di Terzolan stands as one of Valpolicella’s most evocative small estates. Housed within a 15th-century former hunting lodge, the winery sits at 350 metres above sea level, surrounded by a rich mosaic of vineyards, meadows, woodlands, and olive trees. It’s a landscape deeply rooted in history, biodiversity, and traditional land stewardship. Winemaker and proprietor Roberta produced her first vintage here in 2015, though hail damage delayed her inaugural commercial vintage to 2016. The estate cultivates 2.5 hectares of vineyards across four plots: La Mezzaluna, La Pala, Il Binte, and Il Brolo. Certified organic since 2020, production is limited to 13,000 bottles per year between three labels (Amarone, Valpolicella Superiore and Valpolicella), carefully crafted from indigenous Valpolicella varieties: Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Croatina. During my visit to the estate in winter 2025, the deep connection between land and legacy was palpable, from the ancient cellars where Roberta ages her wines in oak and amphora, to the extraordinary tree towering over the estate which was planted in 1492 to mark Christopher Columbus’s discovery of America. A place of serenity and craftsmanship. Their 2020 Amarone beautifully builds on the impressive 2019 vintage, offering a fragrant, complex, and elegant interpretation while retaining remarkable intensity. The nose is deeply expressive, unveiling dark cherry, dried red and dark fruits, balsamic tones, subtle spice, and graphite minerality, with gentle floral and herbal nuances emerging over time. On the palate, it's harmonious and elegant, showing graceful concentration with dried dark fruit, plum, fine spice, and beautifully integrated tannins. The texture is refined, the structure poised, and the overall impression one of restrained power, an Amarone that favours finesse and purity over weight yet has the structure for decades of cellaring. A compelling expression from this talented producer, the 2020 vintage is shaping up to be another standout, exemplifying the unique character of Torre di Terzolan’s single vineyards on their historic estate. Expect graceful development over the next two decades. Tasted February 2025. 94+ points. Matt Steeves - http://www.quercusvino.ca