Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva 2015

Nestled in the hills of Valpolicella Classica, north of Verona, the Giuseppe Quintarelli vineyard stretches across well-exposed slopes overlooking the valley. The plots, located around Negrar and in neighboring communes, benefit from a temperate climate due to the proximity of Lake Garda and the cool influences of the Prealps. The soils, predominantly calcareous and clay-loam, offer natural drainage favorable to a slow and complete ripening of the grapes, giving rise to an Amarone of great depth and remarkable complexity.

The grapes, harvested manually at optimal ripeness, are long dried by appassimento before pressing. Fermentation takes place slowly, with long macerations, in order to gently extract color, structure, and aromatic complexity. The wine is then aged for many years in large oak barrels, according to the estate's tradition. This long aging in wood refines the tannins, integrates the alcoholic richness, and develops the tertiary aromas characteristic of this emblematic Valpolicella cuvée.

This wine reveals notes of candied black cherry, dried plum, and fig, enriched with floral touches of violet, sweet spices such as cinnamon and clove, as well as woody nuances of cocoa, blond tobacco, and vanilla. On the palate, the texture is full and velvety, supported by fine but present tannins, a balanced acidity that underpins the richness, and a very long, warm, and harmonious finish.

Ah, Italy, what a beautiful, hedonistic country, the land of la dolce vita, but how difficult it is to understand its wine industry! The key to understanding the appellation system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous nation, as each region has its own appellation system. Italy can offer wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, bottles brimming with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless, characterless wines sold under their most commercially useful and prestigious name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco, and many others... But let's talk a little history. Viticulture in Italy dates back to antiquity and originated in Greece. The Etruscans are said to have introduced the vine, and Greek immigrants improved and modified the grape varieties, subsequently calling the country "Oenotria": the land of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life, and certain regions already distinguished themselves by the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible mark of their conquest. Today, Italy is the world's largest wine producer, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic zones. The northern mountains have a rather harsh mountain climate. The plains of the "central boot" are characterized by a continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the southern part of the Italian boot, the Mediterranean climate prevails, with very hot and dry summers, not forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In short, Italy produces a wide variety of wines thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originated in its own lands. It is a country as complex as its wines, which deserve to be explored!