The Valpolicella area is clearly defined from a geographical point of view. It occupies the western sector of the Lessini plateau and consists of the valleys of Fumane, Marano and Negrar, the flat area along the Adige river and the mountainous area from Monti Pastello e Pastelletto to the confluence of the Vajo Marciora with the Falconi near Veja bridge. The Horn of Aquilio (1517 m) is the northern boundary with the Adige river to the south west. To the east the mountain ridge of Sassine, Comun, Tondo e Loffa separates Valpolicella from Valpantena and from the hills of Quinzano and Avesa. Historically, the territory includes the towns of the Valpolicella Fumane, Marano di Valpolicella, Negrar, Pescantina, Sant'Anna d'Alfaedo, Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella, San Pietro in Cariano and the towns of Parona, in the City of Verona, and Volarne in the town of Dolcé.
Throughout Valpolicella, the climate is mild, protected by the Lessini alpine foothills to the north and with good hillside sites in the south.
The landscape is Mediterranean shown by the widespread presence of cypress and olive trees. The average annual rainfall is between 850 mm on the plains (up to 100 m above sea level) and 1200 mm in the hills (between 500 and 700 m).During the vegetative period, from May to September, the average minimum temperature varies between 12 and 15 ° C with a maximum ranging from 23 to 30 ° C.
In winter, predominant winds are cold and dry from the Northeast (Bora or Greek), with the warm and humid Scirocco from South East (Scirocco). In summer, mountain breezes, help maintain stable weather and clear skies, though with occasional heavy storms. In spring and autumn winds are extremely variable. An exception is the foehn, a typical winter wind blowing from North; bone-dry and mild.
These notes cannot fully describe the microclimate nor its complete influence on the wine produced in the area. However, we can say that the higher altitude sites in Valpolicella (between 350 and 500 m above sea level) give more balanced production, richer in polyphenols and anthocyanins than in the valley or plains.
