Valpolicella Wines: Amarone, Ripasso and Valpolicella Classico from the Hills of Verona

How Is Amarone Made?

The short answer is drying. After harvest, selected bunches rest in airy lofts for around three to four months, a process called appassimento, and lose much of their weight before they are pressed.

The concentrated juice ferments slowly into a dry, powerful red of at least 14% alcohol, often 15 to 16%, with dried cherry, plum, chocolate and spice. Amarone della Valpolicella must then age for at least two years before release.

Valpolicella, Superiore and Ripasso

Valpolicella DOC is the fresh, everyday style, with sour cherry and a juicy, light to medium bodied red palate that suits a slight chill. Superiore spends at least a year ageing and has a little more weight.

Ripasso is made by passing the young wine over the pomace, the skins left from making Amarone or Recioto. A second, gentle fermentation adds body and dried fruit, which is why Ripasso is often called baby Amarone.

Valpolicella Wine Brands in Our Range

Masi is one of the great names of Amarone, with its Costasera, the Riserva Costasera and the single vineyard Mazzano and Campolongo di Torbe. Allegrini of Fumane adds its Valpolicella and an Amarone.

Buglioni, Fattori and Pasqua each offer the full ladder from Valpolicella to Ripasso and Amarone, joined by Monte Cillario, Prà's Morandina and Cielo.

Serving and Food Pairing

Serve young Valpolicella at around 15 degrees, Ripasso a little warmer and Amarone at 16 to 18, ideally after an hour in a decanter. Amarone is superb with braised beef, game and aged Parmigiano, Ripasso with mushroom risotto and roast pork.

What Kind of Wine Is Valpolicella? Your Questions, Answered

What kind of wine is Valpolicella?

A dry red from the hills north of Verona, made mainly from Corvina and Corvinone with some Rondinella. It ranges from light, fruity Valpolicella DOC to Amarone, a rich full bodied red wine.

Is Valpolicella like Pinot Noir?

A young Valpolicella has a similar lightness, bright red cherry and fresh acidity, so it suits many lovers of Pinot Noir. Ripasso and Amarone are much fuller.

Why is Amarone so expensive?

Drying the grapes costs time, space and a large share of the harvest's weight, and the wine then ages for years before release. That makes every bottle far more costly to produce than a regular Valpolicella.

Is Amarone sweet?

No. Amarone is dry, though its ripe dried fruit can taste generous. Its sweet sibling is Recioto della Valpolicella, made from the same dried grapes but stopped before all the sugar has fermented.

How do you pronounce Valpolicella?

Say val poh lee chel la, with the stress on chel.

Why Buy Valpolicella Wine at YourWines?

From a fresh red for a midweek pasta to an aged Amarone for the cellar, you can buy Valpolicella and Amarone wine online in Australia, alongside the rest of our Italian red wine range.

Every wine is chosen by our team, available by the dozen or as a six-pack, and shipping is free Australia wide with a surcharge for WA, TAS and remote areas. For more from Italy, explore our whole Italian collection.