Ca’ La Bionda, Valpolicella Classico

I see a strong parallel between the wines of Northern Italy’s Valpolicella region and those of Beaujolais in France. It isn’t merely a stylistic similarity—it’s how consumer perceptions, and the fortunes, of these wines have shifted over time. Both places were once known for what were condescendingly dubbed “cheap and cheerful” wines. Both enjoyed powerful name recognition and some juggernaut mass-market brands. Today, of course, Beaujolais has become a prestige destination—we rave about these wines constantly—but Valpolicella? Woefully under-appreciated. Too many wine lovers are either ignoring it entirely or skipping past a bright, fragrant wine like Ca’ La Bionda’s 2019 to get to a richer Amarone. To which I say: Big mistake! Ca’ La Bionda is a small, family-run farm smack in the heart of Valpolicella’s original production area, known as the Valpolicella Classico. The Castellani family has been farming organically since 2000, and today’s wine displays the kind of energy and purity t