🍇 Corvina
The main grape of Valpolicella and Amarone from Veneto; per VIVC 4,867 ha in Italy (2000); 45–95% of the Valpolicella blend.
Corvina (Corvina Veronese) is a dark-skinned Italian grape from Veneto, the main basis of Valpolicella and Amarone wines. According to VIVC, it has 25 synonyms, and its area in Italy in 2000 was 4,867 ha. In Valpolicella wine, Corvina and Corvinone together or separately have to make up 45 to 95% of the blend.
The berries are small, with little tannin and pigment, but the skin is thick, which is good for drying the grapes and for protection against rot (according to Wikipedia, Clarke & Rand 2001). Corvina was long confused with Corvinone, a larger and later-ripening grape, but DNA analysis showed they are different varieties; in 2005 it was established that Corvina is one of the parents of Rondinella.
For Amarone, the bunches are dried indoors for 100–120 days, producing a dry wine of at least 14% vol., which according to the specification can be kept for over twenty years. The maximum yield is 31.2 hl/ha for Amarone and 84 hl/ha for Valpolicella, and the minimum strength of Valpolicella is 11% vol. According to the PDO document, drying the grapes in this area has been traditional since the 4th century, and the first bottle of Amarone dates from 1953. Corvina is also used for Bardolino, Recioto della Valpolicella and Valpolicella Ripasso (Wikipedia).
Why it matters to you. “Valpolicella” is the name of an area and of its rules, not of a grape: Corvina does not have to be the only variety there. For a light, fresh wine look for the name Valpolicella; the dense and stronger Amarone is a completely different style. Alcohol is for adults, in moderation.
Facts
| Country | Italy 1 |
|---|---|
| Region | Veneto: Valpolicella, Bardolino, Lake Garda |
| Main use | Valpolicella and Amarone; for Amarone, drying for 100–120 days 2 3 |
| Fruit size | Small berries, thick skin |
| Yield | Amarone: up to 31.2 hl/ha; Valpolicella: up to 84 hl/ha 2 3 |
How it connects to Wine
🍇 Corvina → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 🍇 Grape varieties
- Origin
- 🗺️ Italian wine
- Where it grows
- 📍 Valpolicella, 📜 Bardolino, 📍 Veneto, 📍 Lake Garda
- Main grape in
- 📜 Recioto della Valpolicella, 📜 Valpolicella Ripasso, 📜 Bardolino, 📜 Bardolino Superiore, 📍 Valpolicella
- Related to
- 🍷 Amarone, 🍷 Amarone
Frequently asked questions
What is Corvina?
A dark-skinned Italian grape from Veneto, the main basis of Valpolicella and Amarone wines; VIVC calls it Corvina Veronese.
How much Corvina is in Valpolicella?
Under the PDO specification, Corvina and/or Corvinone have to make up 45 to 95% of the blend (after the 2019 change the share of Corvinone can reach 95%).
Why is Corvina dried?
The thick skin withstands drying well; for Amarone the bunches are dried indoors for 100–120 days, and the wine comes out dry, at least 14% vol.
Is it true that Corvina and Corvinone are the same grape?
No. They were long confused, but DNA analysis showed they are two different varieties: Corvinone is larger and ripens later (Wikipedia).
What is the maximum yield for Amarone and Valpolicella?
31.2 hl/ha for Amarone and 84 hl/ha for Valpolicella (the PDO documents in the EU register).
What to read next
- 🗺️ Italian wine — The country's wine and winemaking: regions, grape varieties, appellations.
- 📜 Bardolino Superiore — Red DOCG wine from the Verona side of Lake Garda, made from Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Molinara.
- 📍 Lake Garda — The lake shores with Bardolino and Lugana.
Similar
🍇 Rondinella · 🍇 Corvinone · 🍇 Molinara · 🍇 Negrara · 🍇 Oseleta · 🍇 Dindarella
Sources
- VIVC. Corvina Veronese (passport 2863)
- eAmbrosia (реєстр GI ЄС): PDO «Valpolicella», єдиний документ
- eAmbrosia: PDO «Amarone della Valpolicella», єдиний документ