Every year, around January, Verona hosts Anteprima Amarone. It literally means Amarone Preview and is a two days event in which Valpolicella producers present to wine journalists, wine bloggers, sommeliers and other wine experts and lovers, their Amarone of the latest vintage that can be released on the market in the current year. According to Amarone DOCG wine making regulations, the wine should age in barrels for at least 24 months after the year of harvest. Including the time required for fermentation, sedimentation and bottle resting (around 6 months) this means that in 2012, the youngest Amarone that will be … Continue reading →
There has been an earthquake yesterday in Verona province. The epicenter was right in Valpolicella Classica wine producing region, between Negrar and San Pietro in Cariano villages. Magnitude was 4.3 on the Richter scale and shakes were clearly perceivable in Verona too. The earthquake was at 1.00 a.m. and many woke up and run outside their houses. A lot of fright but virtually no damages a part from one of the four pinnacles that decorates the parish church of Sant’Ambrogio di Valpolicella that fell down. The church is dedicated to St. Ambrogio that also gives the name to the village … Continue reading →
Thanks to the warm Summer, harvest ended quite early in Valpolicella in 2011. Again, the warm and dry Autumn accelerated the drying period for grapes that had been selected for the production of Amarone. (Further detailes on Amarone production here>>) Valpolicella Consortium, the authority that regulates the production of Amarone and other DOC and DOCG wines in the area, authorized wineries to squeeze dried grapes starting from November 15th, long before the 4 months that are usually the minimum requirement. Grapes had already lost more than 40% of their water content and sugars were highly concentrated. Nevertheless, few wineries preferred … Continue reading →
Due to the early harvest caused by the exceptionally hot Summer 2011, and to the also exceptionally warm and dry October, after only two months of drying, Amarone and Recioto grapes are now ready to be squeezed and fermented. Of course this is not a decision that a winery can take on its own. According to the strict DOCG regulations, it is the Valpolicella Consortium that sets the minimum requirements for any step in the process of Amarone wine making. And this happens also for those parameters that are subject to variations such as harvest, drying, etc. A wine maker … Continue reading →
Found an Amarone “lost” in the cellar and decided to open it. It was made by Le Ragose winery, a small, family run winery on the border between Valpolicella Classica and the extended Valpolicella wine producing area. Vineyards are located on the nice hills on the northern side of Verona with a stunning view over the city. Found an Amarone “lost” in the cellar and decided to open it. It was made by Le Ragose winery, a small, family run winery on the border between Valpolicella Classica and the extended Valpolicella wine producing area. Vineyards are located on the nice … Continue reading →
Vinitaly is the famous wine fair held every year in Verona. Vinitaly as an “ambassador” of Italian wines also organizes international events in some of the most important foreign markets such as India, U.S., Russia, Germany, Sweden, China, Japan and Korea in order to promote cooperation and communication between Italian wineries and key players in the wine business. This Autumn Vinitaly U.S. at the Metropolitan Pavillon in New York, with the seminar “Volcanic Italy, an exploration of the explosive white wines of Soave and Etna“, promoted those Italian wines produced with grapes grown on volcanic soils. During the event were … Continue reading →
Two Amarone wines will represent Veneto wines in the U.S.: Amarone Allegrini and Mazzano Amarone 2003 by Masi winery, got both more than 90 points from the experts of Wine Spectator‘s at the Critic’s Choice Grand Tasting part of the New York Wine Experience event. In the competition participated 250 producer selected among the best in the world. Italian wineries were 41, half of which from Tuscany, 6 from the north eastern wine producing regions. Amarone Tours regularly organizes escorted wine tasting tours in Valpolicella at Allegrini and Masi-Serego Alighieri wineries.
Sant’Ambrogio Today our full day wine tour takes us to a very specific area of Valpolicella: Sant’Ambrogio. Sant’Ambrogio is one of the five towns that constitute Valpolicella Classica, the historical wine producing region of Amarone, Recioto and Ripasso. Sant’Ambrogio is in the eastern side of Valpolicella, just before the gentle slope that takes you down to lake Garda and a completely different wine producing area: Bardolino. In the territory of Sant’Ambrogio, close to the border with Fumane, there is the hill of Gargagnago, on which we find quite a few interesting wineries. Today we choose two small family run wineries … Continue reading →
In Italy it is often said that Amarone is a Meditation Wine. Rather than pairing it with food, the best way to appreciate a great Amarone is probably at the end of a meal, slowly sipping it while talking to friends, listening to some good music, or just meditating. That is why it is not a surprise how Jazz and Amarone is a perfect pairing. Amarone in Jazz Festival is a way to taste the greatest wine of Valpolicella while listening to great Jazz music. The 2011 Amarone in Jazz, from October 24th until November 1st, will be the 4th … Continue reading →
Amarone wine lovers will be happy to know that now is possible to admire the very first bottle of their favourite wine. Today Amarone is a global success, and the production grew from 3 milion bottles per year in the 80s, to the 13 milion produced in 2010. The very first bottle is enshrined in the caveau-cellar of Cantina Valpolicella Negrar, the first winery that bottled it in 1939. The Legendary Birth of the Amarone Like many other great innovations, the origin of the Amarone too happened by chance. The official birth dates back to 1936. Adelino Lucchesi, cellar master … Continue reading →
Amarone Tours