Amarone della Valpolicella

Amarone della Valpolicella is a wine appellation from the Valpolicella region in Veneto. The specific area covered by this appellation is located north of Verona, between the villages of Sant Ambrogio and Montecchia di Corsara. Amarone della Valpolicella was classified as a DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) in 2009. Like certain famous recipes or renowned wines, Amarone della Valpolicella is the result of an accident—which nonetheless makes it one of Italy’s most sought-after wines.

In fact, according to tradition, it is said that Amarone originally began as a Recioto that was “forgotten” by a producer. The production of Amarone della Valpolicella begins with a late harvest, after which the grapes are air-dried for about three months before being pressed. For Recioto, fermentation is halted to produce a sweet wine. However, 70 years ago, a winemaker failed to stop the fermentation. The sugars then turned into alcohol, transforming the Recioto into Amarone—a dry red wine that is more bitter and has a relatively high alcohol content (14° to 16°).

Made from the Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara grape varieties,Amarone della Valpolicella is a wine with exceptional aging potential. Fruity in its early years, its powerful flavors develop after 5 to 8 years of aging. This “mistake” in winemaking has thus resulted in a red wine of great complexity, one of Italy’s most highly regarded wines.