Valpolicella does not need to be big and bold or a "baby Amarone" to be worth taking seriously. In fact, when it is made this way—fresh, fragrant, organic, and built around Corvina’s cheerful cherry brightness—it can be one of northern Italy’s most versatile and delicious reds. We might go so far as to call it "quaffable"!

Primarily Corvina with dashes of Corvinone and Rondinella, Massimago’s “Duca Fedele” comes from the Mezzane Valley east of Verona and delivers all the things we want from real Valpolicella: bright cherry and strawberry fruit, a little herb, a little white pepper, a little balsamic lift, and enough acidity to keep everything brisk and food-hungry. Give it a slight chill and put it next to salumi, pizza, roast chicken, pork, tuna, burgers, tomato-sauced pasta, or a casual Tuesday night that deserves better wine.

Tadd & Brandon enjoyed this with the winemaker in May 2026, and it was a surprisingly amazing pairing with vitello tonnato. It made such an impression that they insisted we carry this!