Amarone della Valpolicella

L'Amarone della Valpolicella is an appellation made from the wines of Valpollicella, in the Veneto region. The appellation's specific area lies north of Verona, between the villages of Sant Ambrogio and Montecchia di Corsara. Amarone della Valpolicella was classified DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) in 2009. Like some famous recipes and wines, Amarone della Valpolicella is the result of an accident, which nonetheless makes it one of Italy's most sought-after wines.

Indeed, according to tradition, Amarone is originally a Recioto "forgotten" by a producer. The production of Amarone della Valpolicella begins with a late harvest, when the grapes are air-dried for around three months before being pressed. For Recioto, fermentation is interrupted to produce a sweet wine. However, 70 years ago, a winemaker neglected to interrupt fermentation. As a result, the sugars turned to alcohol, transforming Recioto into Amarone, a dry, bitter red wine with a relatively high alcohol content (14° to 16°).

Made from Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes, theAmarone della Valpolicella is a wine for very long ageing. Fruity in the first years, the powerful flavors develop after 5 to 8 years of aging. This winemaking "mistake" has resulted in a red wine of great complexity, one of Italy's most appreciated crus.

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