Valpolicella, in the Veneto near Verona, is a versatile red zone built on the Corvina grape (with Rondinella and others). It spans light, cherryish everyday Valpolicella; richer Ripasso (refermented on Amarone skins); and the magnificent Amarone della Valpolicella, made from grapes dried for months to concentrate them into a powerful, raisined, high-alcohol red. Sweet Recioto completes the family.
Structure
| Body | The appassimento method — air-drying grapes before fermentation — defines Amarone and Recioto, concentrating sugar and flavour into dense, port-like dry (Amarone) or sweet (Recioto) wines. Ripasso bridges the gap, while basic Valpolicella is fresh and bright. Corvina gives the sour-cherry, almond signature throughout. |
|---|---|
| Acidity | Medium to high, fresh. |
| Tannin | Medium; higher and riper in Amarone. |
| Finish | From bright cherry (Valpolicella) to long, raisined depth (Amarone). |
| Aroma | Sour cherry, almond, dried fig, chocolate and spice (Amarone). |
Serving: 15–17°C Valpolicella; 17–18°C Amarone. · Decanting: 1 hour for Amarone; none for basic Valpolicella.
Valpolicella drinking window
| Tier | Drinking window |
|---|---|
| Valpolicella | Drink within 1–4 years. |
| Ripasso | Best 3–8 years. |
| Amarone | 8–25 years. |
| Vintage | Drinking window |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Amarone drinking well now. |
| 2017 | Hold Amarone to 2032. |
| 2020 | Valpolicella: drink now to 2026. |
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Valpolicella — questions answered
What is Amarone?
A powerful dry red from Valpolicella made by drying the grapes for months (appassimento) before fermentation, concentrating them into a rich, raisined, high-alcohol wine.
What is Ripasso?
Valpolicella refermented on the leftover Amarone skins, gaining extra body, alcohol and flavour — often called 'baby Amarone'.
What grapes make Valpolicella?
Mainly Corvina, with Rondinella and other local varieties; Corvina gives the sour-cherry and almond character.
What food pairs with Amarone?
Braised beef, game, hard aged cheeses and rich stews; it can even stand up to bittersweet chocolate.