There are two masterpieces and two cities, and three wines that unite them.
Though seemingly distant due to their locations in Fumane and Mantua, Villa Della Torre and Palazzo Te are deeply linked by the genius of Giulio Romano and a long history spanning centuries.
These two Renaissance masterpieces share many significant similarities, giving rise to a fruitful alliance: three new wines – a Valpolicella, a Lugana, and an Amarone – bearing labels depicting three of the most famous frescoes preserved in Palazzo Te: Camera dei Giganti (Chamber of the Giants), Camera di Amore e Psiche (Chamber of Cupid and Psyche), and Camera del Sole e della Luna (Chamber of the Sun and the Moon). These three wines epitomize ancient stories and are born of a shared, refined sense of beauty.
Chamber of the Giants
Villa Della Torre, a monument and a Valpolicella winery owned by the Mastella Allegrini family, has chosen to adorn a limited edition of its Valpolicella Classico Superiore with the fresco from the vault of the Camera dei Giganti. This room’s walls and vault depict the final act of the mythical war between the Titans and Jupiter, which the latter won and which is described in Ovid’s Metamorphoses. At the center of the vault is a daring glimpse of Jupiter’s throne inside a circular temple. Just below stands Jupiter himself, hurling thunderbolts at the Giants: in a circle are the confused and dismayed gods of Olympus. The walls depict the Giants trying in vain to protect themselves from the collapsing world around them.
Chamber of Cupid and Psyche
Villa Della Torre and Fondazione Palazzo Te confirm their deep and synergistic bond as protagonists of a joint project dedicated to promoting cultural heritage via the wine ‘Camera di Amore e Psiche’. Born in the heart of Lugana (Desenzano del Garda), this wine is adorned in art for the occasion. This limited edition features two collectible labels. The first label, on the 0.75L bottle, depicts the tale of Cupid and Psyche from Apuleius’ Metamorphoses, which is depicted on the room’s vault and lunettes. The second label, found on the larger 1.5L and 3L formats, features a fresco depicting preparations for a countryside banquet. A lush vine serves as the backdrop to a table attended by a servant (carrying a wineskin) and Bacchus.
Chamber of the Sun and the Moon
This limited edition Amarone – the wine that symbolizes Valpolicella and Verona – is dedicated to the Camera del Sole e della Luna. Two collectible labels distinguish this limited edition. The first label, on the 0.75L bottle, features a section of the vaulted ceiling of the Chamber of the Sun and the Moon. It is decorated with lacunas (192 lozenges and triangles at the edges of the composition) with stucco reliefs on a sky-blue background depicting men, animals, and emblems. The second label, which is on the larger formats (1.5L and 3L), features the marvelous fresco on the central vault of the room of the same name. It depicts the allegory of the chariot of the Sun at sunset and the Moon rising: a metaphor for the incessant passing of time.
The Green Lizard Game
The Green Lizard Game (Il Gioco del Ramarro) designed by Flaminia Veronesi, is based on the classic Game of the Goose, perhaps the most famous and easiest board game to play but also one of the most entertaining. The name of the game is intrinsically linked to the history of Palazzo Te. The green lizard appears repeatedly in the palazzo’s rooms and was chosen by Federico II Gonzaga as a symbol to hide a secret message related to his troubled love life. This version enables you to discover 40 wonders along a route starting from Villa Della Torre and leading to Palazzo Te, and to encounter places and characters from history and mythology along the way.
