In the Footsteps of Dante: A Legacy Poured in Amarone
Where the Poet’s Blood Runs in the Vines of Masi and the House of Alighieri
Jan de Weerd - Spoken Wines
This will hide itself!
In the Footsteps of Dante: A Legacy Poured in Amarone
Where the Poet’s Blood Runs in the Vines of Masi and the House of Alighieri
We spent ten days in the land of Valpolicella, north of Verona, in pursuit of our beloved, mesmerizing Amarone. But nothing prepared us for stepping onto the historic Serego Alighieri estate in Sant’Ambrogio—where Dante’s descendants still tend the land. Here, we didn’t just find a winery—we stepped into a living poem, where grapes grow on ground once claimed by a poet in exile.
The Poet's Soil
Florence may have birthed Dante Alighieri, but exile brought his family to Verona—and it was here, in 1353, that his son Pietro found refuge and a future. He purchased the estate in Sant’Ambrogio, where the Alighieri lineage took root. By the 1500s, a daughter of the Alighieri family would marry into the noble Serego family, and the name Serego Alighieri was born—binding two noble stories into one.
Today, that legacy continues. The 21st generation is entirely female, and the 22nd is already in the making—one of the daughters expecting the next heir to this ancient land.
The estate is not just historic. It feels mythic. Beneath the hills and through an ancient vineyard, we walked paths once traced by a poet’s heir, guided by our warm and insightful host Nadia Tomezzoli.
The estate is not just historic—it feels mythic. We walked paths once traced by the poet’s heir
Masi — Where Tradition Meets Mastery
If the estate tells the story of legacy, Masi brings that story to life in the bottle. The name Masi comes from “Vaio dei Masi,” the first vineyard acquired by the Boscaini family in 1772. What began as a family venture is now one of Italy’s most iconic wine houses, carrying over 250 vintages of tradition. Masi is now led by the sixth, seventh, and eighth generations of the Boscaini family and continues to be a beacon of both innovation and tradition in Veneto.
In 1973, the story deepened. Masi began its historic collaboration with the Serego Alighieri family—uniting poetic heritage with precision winemaking. Grapes once sold from the estate were now transformed under the shared vision of both families. Today, that partnership still thrives—producing wines that are bold, refined, and reverent of their storied origins.
What began as a family venture in 1772 is now one of Italy’s most iconic wine houses
A Tasting to Ascend to the Light
We began with the classics, all beautifully expressive, but it was the 2018 Amarone Riserva that stopped us in our tracks. It didn’t just impress. It resonated. A wine of orchestral depth, layered and measured—dark cherry and dried plum layered with spice and tobacco, restraint, and a whisper of ancient oak, as if the barrels themselves had listened to poetry in their slumber. And of course, the Costasera Amarone—a wine we’ve trusted and treasured for 15 years—did not disappoint. Tasting it on the estate was like seeing a dear friend in the place they were born.
As we were wrapping up, we couldn’t help but recall the words that begin Inferno, Dante’s immortal journey into the underworld:
“Midway upon the journey of our life,
I found myself within a forest dark,
For the straightforward path had been lost.”
But here, the path was anything but lost. It was lined with vines, warmth and laughter. It was an ascent to light, legacy and God’s presence. And with wines like these—vibrant, eternal, full of soul—we find every reason to stay above ground.
Here is a link to the website of Masi to learn more and an opportunity to experience some of their wines: www.masi.it/en/
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