Decanter Presents... new event series

Founded in Valpolicella in 1857 by Gaetano and Giovan Battista Bertani, the estate stood out from the start. While the region was known for sweet sparkling red wine, Bertani introduced its Secco in 1860, an unusually dry red style.

By the 1880s, Bertani was exporting worldwide, making innovation central to its identity. In the 1930s, it created Bertarose, long before rosé became popular. Its Soave also gained international acclaim and was served at King George VI’s coronation lunch in 1937.

The most enduring legacy started in 1958, when Bertani produced its first dry Amarone della Valpolicella, revealing the region’s depth and terroir. Initially slow to gain popularity due to its dry style, the wine was kept in bottle, helping shape the long maturation style that became a Bertani signature.

Innovation remains central to Bertani today, as it seeks to preserve stylistic continuity while creating wines for modern consumers.

The Secco Bertani Original Vintage honours the 1860 original by respecting its historic recipe, style, and character. Bertarose has likewise been reimagined as part of Bertani’s Original Vintage Edition.

This spirit of innovation continues with Ognisanti, Bertani’s contemporary interpretation of Valpolicella Classico. Inspired by the estate’s pursuit of elegance and freshness, it expresses Bertani’s vision for the future of Valpolicella while remaining deeply rooted in the territory’s heritage.

This exclusive Decanter Presents tasting celebrates Bertani’s legacy of historical innovation. Guided by Italian wine expert and Master of Wine Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW along with Pietro Riccobono, production director at Angelini Wines & Estates, guests will explore wines that feel both timeless and contemporary.

The tasting offers a cultural journey through Bertani’s icons, beginning with modern versions of the Original Vintage Edition wines – Bertarose, Soave and Secco Bertani.

Guests will then discover Ognisanti, a contemporary expression of Valpolicella Classico, followed by the newly released Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2016, the latest chapter in Bertani’s iconic Amarone legacy. The experience concludes with the rare 2005 vintage from the BertaniON collection.

Join us to experience Bertani’s innovation and legacy in the glass.

Born in Sicily in 1985, Pietro Riccobono is production director at Angelini Wines & Estates, where he has worked for more than a decade. Having grown up among vineyards and cellars, Riccobono began his career in wine in 2007, and graduated with a degree in oenology two years later. The turning point came in 2015, when he oversaw Bertani’s first harvest at Tenuta Novare in Valpolicella. From 2018, he coordinated the production activities of the group’s three Tuscan estates: Val di Suga in Montalcino, San Leonino in Chianti Classico and Trerose in Montepulciano.

Today, Riccobono leads the winemaking team across the group’s six estates and is deeply attentive to territorial identity, expressiveness and sustainability. His profound knowledge of appellations such as Montalcino, Montepulciano, Chianti Classico and Valpolicella underpins his daily work, where expertise meets vision.

Michelle is a dual Italian/Canadian citizen, who for the past 25 years has lived and worked in the London (UK) wine trade. She is a highly respected wine lecturer at WSET London and other wine schools around the world and is currently Chair of the Study Programme for the Institute of Masters of Wine. Michelle is a freelance journalist, with wine articles appearing in Decanter magazine and various trade publications. She is a frequent wine judge and is currently the Regional Chair for Tuscany, Decanter World Wine Awards. An acclaimed presenter for various wine bodies and a speaker at trade shows, Michelle also consults for restaurants, wine companies and wineries using her specialist knowledge in Italy, France and the New World. She became a Master of Wine in 2015.