Amarone of Valpolicella

Amarone della Valpolicella is a dry red passito wine with DOCG certification produced exclusively in Valpolicella in the province of Verona. The production area of ​​the denomination covers the entire piedmont area of ​​the province of Verona, extending from Lake Garda to the border with the province of Vicenza. Thanks to the protection of the Lessini mountain range to the north, the proximity of Lake Garda and the southern exposure of the hilly and valley floor terrain, the climate in which the " Amarone della Valpolicella " vineyard grows is generally mild and not too rainy, approaching the "Mediterranean" climate, especially in the lower hills and valley floor. The name of this structured red, Amarone, derives from the word " amaro ", adopted to distinguish it from the sweet Recioto della Valpolicella from which it had, albeit involuntarily, origin. The experience needed to bring the grapes destined for this precious wine to the right drying stage is very high. Drying is fundamental, so much so that some have defined this phase as a second harvest. The grapes, healthy and perfectly ripe not only on the skin but also internally, are selected already at the time of harvest, in the first two weeks of October, choosing the sparse bunches, with the grapes not too close together, so that they allow air to circulate. These small dark "nuggets" are distributed in a single layer on the plateaux , large wooden boxes. Amarone has a very full taste, it has a unique charm due to its structure, its intensity and its continuous evolution. With an intense color, ruby ​​and garnet streaks, which then evolves into garnet over the years. The bouquet is rich with berries, dried flowers, anise, licorice and returns of black cherries in alcohol with a spicy and earthy finish based on walnuts and hazelnuts. Over time it develops spicy hints with cinnamon and cardamom, tobacco and nutmeg. On the palate it is dense, it expands warm and very soft, full of chocolatey notes, but rather with a round fruit and good flavor.