📍 Valpolicella
Hills near Verona, home of Amarone made from partly dried grapes.
Valpolicella is a hilly wine area in Veneto, north-eastern Italy, north of Verona and not far from Lake Garda. The name is often explained as meaning valley of many cellars.
The main grapes are Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Molinara. They make light Valpolicella, fuller Ripasso and two special wines from dried grapes: dry Amarone and sweet Recioto. Both have had DOCG status since 2010.
Amarone is made by drying the bunches for several months on racks and then fermenting them to dryness. The result is a powerful red, usually with at least 14% alcohol. Ripasso is young Valpolicella re-fermented on Amarone pomace, which gives it more body.
The oldest zone of the area is called Classico. Valpolicella belongs to Veneto, and Soave and Bardolino lie nearby. Amarone is usually served with roast meat and aged cheeses, while light Valpolicella suits pasta and appetisers. The name Valpolicella on a label shows that the grapes grew in this very area, which makes it easy to look for similar wines.
How it connects to Wine
📍 Valpolicella ← main grape of ← 🍇 Rondinella → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 📍 Veneto
- Related to
- 📜 Recioto della Valpolicella, 📜 Valpolicella Ripasso, 🍷 Amarone, 🍷 Still wine
- Grapes
- 🍇 Corvinone, 🍇 Corvina, 🍇 Rossignola, 🍇 Rondinella, 🍇 Molinara
- Main grapes
- 🍇 Corvina, 🍇 Corvinone, 🍇 Rondinella, 🍇 Molinara
- Wines
- 🍷 Red wine
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Amarone, 🍷 Ripasso
Frequently asked questions
Where is Valpolicella?
In Veneto, north of Verona.
What is Amarone?
A dry red from dried Corvina, Corvinone and other grapes.
How does Ripasso differ from basic Valpolicella?
It is re-fermented on Amarone pomace, so it is fuller.
What to read next
- 📜 Recioto della Valpolicella — A sweet red DOCG wine from dried Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella grapes from the foothills of Valpolicella near Verona.
- 🍇 Rossignola — Dark-skinned wine grape from Italy; 15 synonyms in VIVC.
- 🍷 Red wine — Wine from dark grapes that ferments with the skins and takes its colour from them.
- 🍷 Still wine — Wine without noticeable bubbles: EU category 1, at least 8.5–9 % actual alcohol and no more than 15 % total; red, white, rosé or orange.
- 📜 Valpolicella Ripasso — Red Valpolicella wine passed again over the pomace of Recioto or Amarone.
Similar
📍 Soave · 📜 Valpolicella Ripasso · 📜 Bardolino Superiore · 📜 Recioto della Valpolicella · 📜 Bardolino · 📜 Corti Benedettine del Padovano
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.
What it includes
Sources
- Ministero dell'agricoltura (MASAF)
- eAmbrosia – EU geographical indications register
- eAmbrosia – EU geographical indications register
- Wikidata