Sartori di Verona Merlot Vino d'Italia Organic
Red wine, medium-bodied, fruit-forward dry style. · Casa Sartori 1898. A highly respected, family-owned historical winery based in Negrar, Valpolicella. While famous for Amarone, they produce a range of successful boutique and large-scale wines, maintaining a reputation for reliability and quality at various price tiers.
Vintage: Non-Vintage (NV) / Current Release. As a Vino d'Italia, this wine focuses on a consistent, approachable year-to-year profile rather than specific vintage character, often blending lots from recent harvests.
Type
Red wine, medium-bodied, fruit-forward dry style.
Producer
Casa Sartori 1898. A highly respected, family-owned historical winery based in Negrar, Valpolicella. While famous for Amarone, they produce a range of successful boutique and large-scale wines, maintaining a reputation for reliability and quality at various price tiers.
Country
Italy. A global leader in wine production with a long tradition of both native and international varieties. The 'Vino d'Italia' category allows for flexibility in blending across their diverse Mediterranean and Continental climates.
Vintage
Non-Vintage (NV) / Current Release. As a Vino d'Italia, this wine focuses on a consistent, approachable year-to-year profile rather than specific vintage character, often blending lots from recent harvests.
Region & Appellation
Vino d'Italia. This is the base level of Italian wine classification, allowing for grapes to be sourced from multiple regions across Italy to ensure a consistent house style and profile.
Grape Varieties
100% Merlot. Known for its soft tannins, easy-drinking nature, and plum-centric fruit profile. In Italy, Merlot often takes on a slightly herbaceous and brighter acidic character compared to its Bordeaux or New World counterparts.
Color & Appearance
Bright ruby red with medium intensity. Clear and brilliant, showing violet hues at the rim indicative of a youthful, fresh red wine.
Aroma Profile
Fresh and aromatic with primary scents of red plum, cherry, and raspberry. Subtle secondary notes of dried herbs and a faint floral hint of violet. Very clean and fruit-driven.
Tasting Notes
A smooth and approachable palate entry featuring juicy red fruits. The mid-palate is balanced and soft, leading to a clean, moderately brief finish that emphasizes freshness and easy drinkability.
Flavor Profile
Prominent flavors of red currants and plums. There is a distinctive light herbaceous touch (typical of Italian Merlot) mixed with subtle earthy undertones. No significant oak-derived flavors.
Body & Texture
Medium-bodied with a velvety, smooth mouthfeel. It lacks heavy extract, prioritizing a light-on-the-feet texture that makes it very versatile for casual drinking.
Acidity & Tannins
Medium acidity that provides a refreshing lift. Tannins are soft, rounded, and fine-grained, ensuring there is no harshness or heavy astringency on the palate.
Sweetness Level
Dry. Very low residual sugar, though the ripe fruit flavors provide a sense of roundness often mistaken for sweetness.
Alcohol Content
12.5% ABV. A moderate level for a red wine, contributing to its light-to-medium body and making it highly food-friendly without being 'hot' or heavy.
Aging & Oak
Aged primarily in stainless steel tanks to preserve the primary fruit aromatics of the Merlot grape. Little to no oak influence is present, focusing instead on the 'organic' purity of the fruit.
Food Pairings
Excellent with light pasta dishes (Bolognese or tomato-based), roasted poultry, pizza, and medium-aged cheeses like Pecorino or Fontina.
Serving Suggestions
Serve at a slightly cool room temperature (14-16°C / 57-61°F) in a universal or Bordeaux-style glass. Decanting is not necessary; this wine is ready to enjoy immediately upon opening.
Price Range
Estimate $10 - $15 USD. This represents an excellent value, 'everyday' organic wine category.
Quality Assessment
Score range 84-86 points. A high-quality 'table wine' (Vino d'Italia) that is well-made, technically sound, and represents the approachable side of organic Italian viticulture.
Production Methods
Produced from organically grown grapes. Fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats with gentle maceration to extract color and soft tannins without over-extraction.
Terroir
Variables vary due to the 'Vino d'Italia' designation, but generally sourced from clay and limestone-rich soils in Northern or Central Italy, benefiting from temperate climates that allow Merlot to ripen while retaining acidity.
History & Heritage
Sartori has been a staple of the Verona wine scene since 1898. This specific wine reflects the family's modern commitment to organic sustainability and making Italian wine accessible to a global audience.
Interesting Facts
The label explicitly mentions 'Organique' and 'Organic,' highlighting a growing trend in Italy to move away from synthetic pesticides. Sartori has been a leader in bringing organic wines to international supermarkets.
Cellaring Potential
Intended for early consumption. It is at its peak within 1-2 years of release and will not benefit from long-term cellaring.
Similar Wines
Other Italian Merlot-based IGPs, Southern French Merlot (Pays d'Oc), or entry-level Chilean Merlot. Similar in spirit to a soft Valpolicella Classico.