Historia
The satin-finished bottle, emblem of Cantine Giacomo Montresor, was patented at the beginning of 20th century to protect the wine from the ocean's sun during the first exports to North America.
Today Montresor's Amarone Satinato Montresor is an icon of Valpolicella present in more than 50 countries all over the world. It was 1921 when Giacomo Montresor patented this satin- finished bottle, since then our Amarone is unique, original and iconic. Its timeless elegance is the same of those who love it, choose it and enjoy it
The bottle was designed by Giacomo Montresor, who, besides his passion for wine, dedicated most of his time to painting. He called this bottle MULA. In 1904 the bottle did not feature its satin finish yet, but it boasted sinuous curves that combined the shape of a classic wine flask to a modern glass bottle, which was unusual for that time. In 1906 the first exports towards North America began.
Those first exported bottles carried the wine that today we know as Amarone della Valpolicella; but at that time it was just a strong red wine, with a high percentage of alcohol content, produced with dried grapes, considered as the little brother of Recioto rather than as a wine having its own identity. And the troubles began: The long journey from Italy to United States became a gamble for every single bottle.
Since wine was not considered a luxury product in those years, it was often stored on the deck of the ship and the bottles were housed in open wooden crates of 16 bottles secured with simple straw. The sun of the ocean caused uncontrolled oxidizations and re-fermentation and most of the times the wine was damaged. Giacomo did not give in and started to satin finish the bottles to protect its precious content.
The long history of the Montresor Family includes some famous ancestors such as the Count Claude de Montresor, trusted advisor to the Duke of Orleans in France in the 17th century. In the mid-1600s, a branch of the dynasty moved to the Veneto region close to Lake Garda, an area well known for the quality of its morainic soil, and there found the perfect environment for continuing to grow one of the family’s main passions: wine making. In 1892, Giacomo Montresor started up Cantine Giacomo Montresor.
Giacomo, who was a painter at heart, designed a new project of his in 1904: A sinous curved bottle that combined the form of a classic flask of wine and the one of a glass bottle. In 1906 the first “Mula” bottle was exported overseas, to the United States; and as exports began, so did the logistics problems. The long journey from Italy to the United States became a gamble for every single bottle. As it wasn’t considered to be a luxury item, the wine was often stored on the ship’s deck and the bottles were in open wooden cases of 16 bottles. The sun on the ocean was causing oxidation and refermentation to the wine. Giacomo wouldn’t give up and began to satinize the bottles to protect their precious content. It took 15 years but at last, in 1921, the frosted bottle made its appearance.