Amarone della Valpolicella
Tasting Notes
Amarone della Valpolicella is one of Veneto’s most renowned red wines, celebrated for its bold, rich flavors and luxurious texture. Made from partially dried grapes, typically Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara grapes. This wine undergoes an appassimento process (semi drying the grapes) before fermentation, resulting in concentrated sugars and intense flavors.
🎯 Overall Character - Amarone is a dry full-bodied red wine from the Veneto region of Italy. It is known for its intense rich flavors, dark fruits, velvety structure and aging potential. Dried cherry, black plum, fig, cocoa, licorice and sweet spice are primary flavours of the wine. Using the appassimento method, the concentrated sugars in the grapes produces a wine with high alcohol levels typically between 15-16% alcohol by volume.
🌿 On the Nose (Aromatics) - Amarone shows bold, concentrated, and complex aromatics. Primary aromas include cherry liqueur, black cherry, blackberry, black plum, black fig and ripe berries. Secondary aromas include cinnamon, green peppercorn, tobacco, licorice and mineral notes.
🍇 On the Palate - Amarone is rich, dense, and layered, with a signature combination of fruit sweetness and savoury depth. It is a dry full body wine with high acidity and high tannins. It has high alcohol content typically 15-16% ABV that adds to the wine’s weight. The structure of the wine is dense, rich and velvety. Amarone offers primary flavours of black cherry, sour cherry, blackcurrant, brown sugar, chocolate (especially with age), molasses and fig. Secondary flavours include tobacco, smoke, tar, earth and mushroom. The finish is long and savory.
🕰️ Aging Profile - Amarone has great aging potential. It can age 20+ years. It typically begins to show it best characteristics after 10 years. Tannins begin to soften and the wine develops flavours of brown sugar, molasses, fig, earth and mushroom to complement is dark fruit and chocolate flavours.
Food Pairing
Amarone della Valpolicella is a full body wine with a high alcohol level, velvety texture with rich dark fruit flavours. It is uniquely produced using the appassimento (semi dry grapes) method that adds to its rich texture, high alcohol level and intense flavours. Its pairings revolve around richness, fat, umami, and slow‑cooked depth.
🍖 1. Rich Red Meats & Slow‑Cooked Dishes (Top Pairing) - Amarone’s power and sweetness need weight and fat. Ideal pairings include Braised Beef Short ribs, Osso buco, Slow‑Roasted Lamb shoulder, Beef cheeks, and Venison stew. The wine’s richness and alcohol cut through fat and amplify savory depth.
🍝 2. Hearty Northern Italian Classics - Excellent pairing include Risotto all’Amarone, Pappardelle with Wild Boar meat sauce, Lasagna with meat ragù (meat sauce) and Polenta with braised meats. The wine’s dried‑fruit sweetness and spice complement slow‑cooked sauces and creamy textures.
🧀 3. Aged, Hard, and Salty Cheeses - Amarone overwhelms soft cheeses but shines with aged ones. Best matches include Parmigiano‑Reggiano, aged Pecorino, Grana Padano and aged Asiago. The salt and umami in the aged cheeses tame the wine’s alcohol and highlight its cherry liqueur richness.
🍄 4. Earthy, Umami‑Driven Dishes - Amarone’s dried‑fruit and cocoa notes love deep, earthy flavours. Recommended pairings include Mushroom Risotto, Truffle dishes, Roasted Root Vegetables and Charred Eggplant.
🍫 5. Dark Chocolate & Cocoa‑Based Dishes - A rare red that can handle chocolate. Recommended pairings are Bittersweet chocolate desserts, Chocolate‑mole sauces and Cocoa‑rubbed meats. Amarone’s natural sweetness and dried‑fruit depth complement cocoa bitterness.
🍗 6. Game & Bold Flavors - The wine’s intensity stands up to strong, rustic meats. Great matches include Wild boar, Duck with cherry or plum glaze and Pheasant or guinea fowl.
Braised Short Ribs
Venison
Aged Parmigiano Cheese
Roasted Lamb