Valpolicella Classica: Visit and tasting at Corte Borghetti
Visit the vineyards and winery of Corte Borghetti and taste 5 wines in the 17th-century barrel cellar, with cold cuts and cheeses from Lessinia, extra virgin olive oil...
The valleys north and east of Verona where Corvina and Corvinone dry for 100 to 120 days in ventilated fruttai to become Amarone and Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG.
Drink your way through Valpolicella
Wine festivals coming up in Valpolicella
All Valpolicella wine festivalsBook wine experiences in Valpolicella
Valpolicella: Amarone Chateau Guided Tour and Wine Tasting
Embark on an immersive experience in Valpolicella and discover the history, art, vineyards and excellent contemporary wines on a tour of Tenuta Santa Maria owned by Gi...
Valpolicella all around: wine tasting of typical Valpolicella wines
A "well-rounded" tasting of Valpolicella wines: 5 wines that will give you an overview of our production and introduce you to the particularities of the typical varieties
Map of Valpolicella
Every vineyard, tasting room, wine bar and cellar we cover in Valpolicella, pinned. Click a pin for the page.
Signature wines of Valpolicella
The iconic bottles that define Valpolicella.
Cà la Bionda Riserva Ravazzòl Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Producer: Ca La Bionda
Cà la Bionda's Riserva from the Ravazzòl vineyard, spontaneously fermented and held eight years in a single large cask.
Price: €150-250 at retail
Masi Campolongo di Torbe Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Producer: Masi Agricola
Masi's elegant cru Amarone from Campolongo di Torbe. Cooked fruit and cinnamon over ripe cherry, plum and a bitter-almond signature.
Price: €120-200 at retail
Viviani Casa dei Bepi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Producer: Viviani
Viviani's selection Amarone, made only in chosen vintages. Sour cherry and dried rose over eucalyptus, liquorice, chocolate and velvety coffee.
Price: €110-180 at retail
Begali Monte Cà Bianca Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva
Producer: Begali
Begali's Riserva Amarone from Monte Cà Bianca, given at least four years of ageing before release.
Price: €90-150 at retail
Brigaldara Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva
Producer: Brigaldara
Brigaldara's Riserva, a cask selection made after four years of ageing rather than from a dedicated cru. Unique to each vintage.
Price: €130-220 at retail
Falezze Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva
Producer: Falezze
Falezze's Riserva Amarone from vines over eighty years old, released as a numbered collector edition with hand-painted labels.
Price: €130-220 at retail
Vineyards to know in Valpolicella
A handful of the estates we send friends to when they are in Valpolicella.
Giuseppe Quintarelli
Negrar estate listed in the Consorzio Tutela Vini Valpolicella register as Az. Agr. Quintarelli Giuseppe di Quintarelli Fiorenza, at Via Cerè. The register carries no website for it, and the range runs to Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Recioto della Valpolicella Classico and Valpolicella Classico Superiore.
Bussola Tommaso
Family cellar on Via Molino Turri in Negrar, run by Paolo and Giuseppe Bussola, working the Classico appassimento range of Valpolicella, Ripasso, Amarone and Recioto.
Le Ragose
Hillside estate above Arbizzano di Negrar run by Paolo and Marco Galli, with Marta Galli as the third generation. The range covers Amarone Classico, Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Ripasso and Recioto.
Roberto Mazzi
San Peretto estate the Mazzi family has farmed since 1900, now run by Roberto's sons Stefano and Antonio. Guided visits take in the historic cellar with its water mill and the drying lofts.
Viviani
Claudio Viviani farms at Mazzano above Negrar on calcareous medium-textured soils, using the altitude and low humidity of the site for the appassimento that feeds his Recioto and Amarone.
Villa Spinosa
Estate on the Jago hill in Negrar run by Enrico Cascella Spinosa, with the Albasini Amarone and a Recioto della Valpolicella at the head of the range.
Sub-appellations of Valpolicella
Valpolicella Classico (Valpolicella Classica/Classico zone/Valpolicella Classico DOC)
Limestone and basalt ridges stepped with dry-stone terracing, where the drying loft is part of the working farm rather than a visitor attraction.
Valpolicella Allargata (Valpolicella allargata/Valpolicella Orientale/eastern Valpolicella)
Wider, cooler valleys east of Verona, where picking runs later than in the Classico zone.
Valpantena (Valpantena/Valpolicella Valpantena)
A narrow valley that turns to Lessini woodland at its head, with three deep vaj cutting north of Lugo.
Negrar di Valpolicella (Negrar/Valle di Negrar)
Terraced slopes above Negrar where the high hamlet of Mazzano sits well above the valley cellars.
Marano di Valpolicella (Marano/Valle di Marano)
Basalt as well as limestone underfoot, and vineyard rows that run right up to the village edges.
Valgatara (Valgatara di Marano)
A short village street with a working cellar and a drying loft behind most of the courtyard gates.
Valpolicella wine, FAQ
When is the best time to visit Valpolicella for wine?
Peak wine-travel season in Valpolicella is spring through autumn, with harvest the standout window.
Do I need an appointment to taste at Valpolicella estates?
classified-growth and grand-cru estates require booking days to weeks ahead; smaller family domaines often take walk-ins midweek.
What hours do Valpolicella cellars and tasting rooms keep?
most estates open 10:00 to 17:00 by appointment, often closed Sunday and Monday.
How does tipping work at Valpolicella tastings?
tipping is not expected at tastings; buying a bottle from the cellar door is the customary thank-you.
What is the one wine to try in Valpolicella?
If you only open one bottle, open Cà la Bionda Riserva Ravazzòl Amarone della Valpolicella Classico by ca-la-bionda. It is the wine most associated with Valpolicella.