”Amarone on top” in biodiversity: promoting Monte Baldo to protect Valpolicella

How are Monte Baldo and Valpolicella linked? The geographical and cultural influences are just two of the reasons connecting them. On the one hand, the topography of this isolated (and somewhat forgotten) mountain in the Verona territory which, from its air to biodiversity, has always contributed to the formation of the particular microclimate of the entire area, including Valpolicella. On the other, the cultural link, which today must deal with the need to protect our environmental heritage, also from the agricultural viewpoint. This link is emphasized in the “Amarone on top” event the Historical Families, 13 great names of Amarone, have organized together with the Antica Bottega del Vino of Verona, Simone Montagnoli of Soluzionivino and Professor Andrea Sbarbati of the University of Verona. It will be a wine and food journey at Rifugio Chierego, altitude 1911 meters, whose goal is to bring the attention of all the players involved (institutions, producers, restaurateurs, media and consumers) to rediscover the value of the “Garden of Europe”. “Valpolicella and Monte Baldo”, explained Professor Sbarbati, “represent a single structure in the geological, historical and cultural perspective. Valpolicella is located on the slopes of Monte Baldo, and in ancient times glaciers excavated these valleys that formed Valpolicella and created the structural identity of Monte Baldo”. “The Valpolicella area is rich in biodiversity, companies that work there respect it because it is a living area. And we, the families, think that sooner or later we must achieve diversification”, as Sabrina Tedeschi, president of the Famiglie Storiche, explained to WineNews, “or an acknowledgment of the Valpolicella hills. The terrain and climate are different from those of the plains, as we have repeated for many years. This does not mean we do not recognize the value of the plains, but rather we need to think about the difference in production and also yield between hills and plains, and work on what is the historicity of a territory. We need dialogue between companies and institutions, and we are talking with the Consortium. Dialogue has always led to good solutions, so we are positive. Fighting does not lead to anything good, and does not help a territory like this one, which boasts one of the top economies in Italy”.