Drink Amarone della Valpolicella before you die!
Why? Because this wine was an accident. It was never supposed to exist. Yet Amarone della Valpolicella became one of Italy’s most profound, hedonistic, and impressive red wines: rich, concentrated, powerful, and a complete celebration of the senses.
Ten Second Summary
- What it is: A powerful dry red wine from Valpolicella in Veneto, made from partially dried grapes.
- Tastes like: Dried cherries, ripe plums, raspberries, violets, cinnamon-like spice, and rich, concentrated fruit, often with elevated alcohol.
- Why it matters: Amarone was never meant to exist. It began as a dry “escaped” Recioto and became one of Italy’s most distinctive wine styles.
- Buying shortcut: Start with a trusted classic producer such as Masi, Bertani, Allegrini, Tommasi, or Speri — or go straight to the 5 best producers ↓
- Best with: Properly hearty food. Amarone is dense, generous, warming, and deeply satisfying at the table.
- When to drink: Many are delicious on release, but the best bottles can evolve beautifully over 10–20+ years.
Amarone della Valpolicella was never supposed to exist. It was an accident. Yet it became one of Italy’s most profound, hedonistic, and impressive red wines.
If you want to discover the best Amarone wine, this is a very good place to start. Amarone della Valpolicella wine is rich, powerful, concentrated, and unforgettable. It is a celebration of the senses and one of the great wines of Italy. For that reason alone, it deserves a place on any serious wine bucket list.
Like some other classic wines, such as Champagne and Palo Cortado Sherry, Amarone was something of an accident. The winemakers’ intention was to make something else, but then something went wrong and the resulting wine was actually pretty good. And hey presto, a new wine style was born.
If you enjoy discovering wines with real meaning, history, and distinction, you might also like my guide to the best red wines and my main page on the world’s best wines.
What’s on this page
- Why drink Amarone della Valpolicella?
- How Amarone was born by accident
- What Amarone della Valpolicella wine tastes like
- 5 Amarone wines to buy
- FAQ
Why drink Amarone della Valpolicella?
Amarone can be profound, hedonistic, and impressive. Everyone should have this on their wine bucket list. It is a heady celebration of the senses: an extraordinarily deep ruby colour, overflowing with soft, warm, alluring fragrances of dried cherries, ripe plums, raspberries, violets, and wisps of cinnamon-like spice, then powerful, dense, and concentrated on the palate.
Amarone della Valpolicella wine is one of those bottles that can make an immediate impression even on people who are not wine obsessives. It is rich, dramatic, and full of personality. It feels important. And sometimes that matters. Life is short. Some wines are worth seeking out simply because they deliver a memorable experience. Amarone is one of them.
|
| Grapes destined for Amarone drying on racks | © linomax / stock.adobe.com |
How Amarone was born by accident
Amarone, you see, was supposed to be a Recioto — more precisely, Recioto della Valpolicella. Recioto is an Italian sweet wine made from dried grapes, and Valpolicella’s traditional version was expected to be rich, smooth, and lusciously sweet.
The problem in Valpolicella was that sometimes the yeast would ferment all of the sugar, leaving a dry, concentrated, alcoholic red wine rather than the sweet one expected. When winemakers tasted through the barrels of sweet, smooth Recioto, a failed Recioto would have stood out like a sore thumb and would have tasted decidedly more bitter than the deliciously sweet wines in the other barrels.
These vinous aberrations were initially referred to as Recioto scapata — meaning an “escaped Recioto”. However, it was the moniker Amarone that stuck. In English, Amarone translates roughly to “the big bitter one”, from the Italian amaro, meaning bitter, and the suffix -one, which when applied to a noun means big or great.
That accidental origin is part of what makes Amarone so compelling. It is not just another famous Italian red. It is a wine style born from a mistake that turned out to be glorious.
|
| Bottles of Amarone della Valpolicella Classico wine | © Irik Bik / stock.adobe.com |
What Amarone della Valpolicella wine tastes like
Despite its name, Amarone does not simply taste “bitter”. In fact, when tasted on its own, Amarone can actually come across as a little sweet. This is often down to the perception of sweetness created by the rich, concentrated fruit flavours and the elevated alcohol. Legally it has to be above 14% alcohol, but in practice it is usually well above 15%.
Although Amarone is a dry wine, there is often still a little residual sugar. Legally this must be below 12 g/L. So while Amarone della Valpolicella wine is technically dry, it often gives a sense of richness and sweetness that makes it especially seductive.
Expect dried cherries, ripe plums, raspberry compote, hints of violet, spice, chocolate, and sometimes a gently savoury edge. The best examples combine power with freshness and concentration with poise. That contrast is a big part of the appeal.
In other words, the best Amarone wine is not just big. It is rich yet balanced, powerful yet polished, and capable of being both hedonistic and serious at the same time.
5 Amarone della Valpolicella wines that are bucket list worthy
If you are wondering which bottles to try first, here are five bucket list worthy Amarone wines that should not break the bank. They are all respected names and all good starting points if you want to explore the world of Amarone della Valpolicella wine.
-
Masi Costasera Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
The Boscaini family has been producing wines in the “Vajo dei Masi” vineyard since 1772. Masi is renowned for its innovation in the appassimento method, the grape-drying technique used in the production of Amarone to concentrate flavour and sugar. Dubbed the “NASA” system — Natural Appassimento Super Assisted — Masi precisely controls temperature, humidity, and airflow during drying to ensure consistent quality. Masi has played a pivotal role in elevating Amarone’s status internationally by consistently producing rich, ripe, complex, fruit-forward wines.
-
Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Established in 1857 by brothers Giovan Battista and Gaetano Bertani, Bertani is one of the benchmark names in Amarone. As pioneers in the production of Amarone, their commitment to tradition and quality has solidified their reputation over generations. They produce a more traditional, long-ageing style of Amarone that is structured, serious, and elegant.
-
Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
The Allegrini family’s winemaking heritage in Valpolicella dates back to the 16th century. In the early 1960s, Giovanni Allegrini revitalised the estate by focusing on high-quality, single-vineyard wines. Today the estate is managed by his descendants, who continue to uphold the family’s commitment to excellence. With a history spanning six generations, Allegrini consistently produces refined, elegant Amarone with freshness and polished tannins.
-
Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Founded in 1902 and still family-run, Tommasi is now one of the largest vineyard owners in the Classico area, giving it exceptional control over grape quality. Their Amarone consistently garners international acclaim for its balance of traditional character and modern finesse.
-
Speri Monte Sant’Urbano Amarone
Established in 1874, the Speri family has long been a significant presence in Valpolicella. They were among the first to produce Amarone della Valpolicella in 1958 and are known for pioneering single-vineyard, or cru, wines. Their Vigneto Monte Sant’Urbano Amarone is a benchmark: complex, age-worthy, and a favourite among sommeliers and collectors alike.
Those five bottles should give you an excellent feel for what the best Amarone wine can be: rich, concentrated, luxurious, and deeply satisfying.
FAQ: Amarone della Valpolicella
What is Amarone della Valpolicella wine?
Amarone della Valpolicella is a powerful dry red wine from the Valpolicella area of Veneto in north-east Italy. It is made from partially dried grapes, which gives it extra concentration, richness, and alcohol.
Why is Amarone so expensive?
Amarone is labour intensive to make. The grapes are dried after harvest to concentrate flavour and sugar, which reduces yield and adds cost. The wines are also often aged before release, adding further expense.
Is Amarone sweet or dry?
Amarone is technically dry, but it can taste slightly sweet because of its rich, concentrated fruit, high alcohol, and small amount of residual sugar that is sometimes present.
What does Amarone taste like?
Amarone della Valpolicella wine typically shows dried cherry, plum, raspberry, violet, spice, chocolate, and sometimes a savoury edge. It is usually full-bodied, concentrated, and high in alcohol.
What is the best Amarone wine to buy first?
If you are just getting started, producers such as Masi, Bertani, Allegrini, Tommasi, and Speri are all very good places to begin. They are well-known names and strong introductions to the style.
Is Amarone worth trying?
Absolutely. Amarone is one of Italy’s most distinctive and memorable red wines. If you enjoy rich, powerful, deeply flavoured wines, it is well worth putting on your bucket list.
Remember ... life is short, drink better. Drink the best. Discover more of the world’s best wines.