Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, one of the most prestigious and iconic red Italian wines, sinks its roots and is produced in the Valpolicella valleys, enclosed between the Valdadige, Lessinia, a stone’s throw from Lake Garda and only a few kilometres from Verona. This countryside is mainly hilly with gentle slopes and watersheds at low altitudes and is dominated almost everywhere by vineyards, but also olive and cherry trees. The geological and climatic characteristics of this region, unique and extremely diverse, are the basis of the great originality and typicity of its wines. In the last years, the Valpolicella appellation has been able to go through both structural and market changes increasing its international prestige.
A great part of its success is linked to its history, strongly connected to its indigenous grape varieties, like Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and other local varieties, which give a unique mark to the wine styles: Valpolicella DOC, Valpolicella Ripasso DOC, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG and Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG.
The etymology of Amarone, whose excellence and uniqueness are worldwide appreciated, derives from the adjective bitter, term used around the 1700 instead of the word dry to indicate the sugary level. This wine is obtained through the drying of the grapes in the so-called “fruttaio” for about 100/120 days. In this important, delicate phase, grapes lose between 30% and 50% of their weight and a series of complex transformations occurs, producing the aromas and all those elements which make unique the great red wines of this area. The dried grapes are vinified in winter, and after a slow fermentation, dry wine with high alcohol content is produced. Long ageing in wood refines its unique structure and personality, making it able to evolve for decades.
Amarone has a very intense red colour, with garnet note, and a smell that remember dried fruits, tobacco and spices, thank to noble mildews, created during the withering. The taste is strongly fruity and dry, while ensuring long-running smoothness, with a full, warm, corroborate and vigorous body; it has a strong personality and it can exceed 20 years of ageing.
Because of its organoleptic characteristics, Amarone is delicious with meat courses, game, matured cheeses, but it can also be appreciated alone, as a pleasant “meditation wine”.
Vialone Nano Veronese PGI, a rice cultivated in the surrounding plains, is the perfect base for risotto made with Amarone.
Photo Credits:
1.: Strada del Vino Valpolicella/Association Valpolicella Wine Route.
2. and 3.: Consorzio per la Tutela dei Vini Valpolicella.
4.: Cantina Valpolicella Negrar.