Primarily renowned for his poetic compositions celebrating victories at the Olympic Games, Pindar is one of the most significant lyric poets of ancient Greece. Although many of his works have been lost, the remaining fragments continue to be studied and admired for their literary beauty and historical value. Inspired by the poet's words, the Begali family has adopted the quotation: "Wine elevates the soul and thoughts, and anxieties depart from the heart of man" as a motto encapsulating their passion for wine and their family heritage. Founded in 1943 by Giordano Begali in a small village called Cengia, in the heart of Valpolicella Classica in Veneto, the winery has always been committed to tradition and authenticity. This artisanal work is now continued by his son Lorenzo, along with his wife Adriana and their two children Tiliana and Giordano, and thanks to their dedication, it has become one of the wineries responsible for promoting the production of Valpolicella wine.
One of their wines, Begali La Cengia Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore, is a blend of the indigenous varieties corvina and corvinone with a small percentage of other local grapes. The vines, located around the municipality of Cengia in a mountainous area, are cultivated with respect for the environment. Once the grapes arrive at the winery, they are carefully selected, destemmed, and crushed. The vinification process employs the ripasso technique, where the wine is fermented on the spent lees of amarone during the racking phase. This method enhances the aromatic complexity and structural depth beyond that of a standard Valpolicella. Subsequently, the wine matures in oak barrels for 12 months, followed by a further maturation period in the bottle, preparing it for commercialization.
The Begali family, much like Pindar with his poetry, seeks to elevate the spirit through their craft, in this case, by creating exceptional wines such as Begali La Cengia Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore. With a commitment to quality and respect for tradition, they are undoubtedly ambassadors of the DOC Valpolicella Ripasso and its winemaking history.