Giuseppe Quintarelli ★ 5.0
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaQuintarelli familyNegrar di Valpolicella
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.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaBussola familyNegrar di Valpolicella
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.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Cabernet SauvignonGalli familyArbizzano, Negrar di Valpolicella
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.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaFounded 1900Mazzi familySan Peretto, Negrar di Valpolicella
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.
Tasting: Guided cellar visit with a classic tasting including Amarone and Recioto, by appointment.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaViviani familyWinemaker Claudio VivianiMazzano, Negrar di Valpolicella
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.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaEnrico Cascella SpinosaJago, Negrar di Valpolicella
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.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella700.0 haFounded 1933240 grower members of the cooperativeNegrar di Valpolicella
Cooperative founded in 1933 at the mouth of the Negrar valley, with 240 members farming 700 hectares of vineyard across the Valpolicella Classico hills. It bottles under the Domini Veneti label.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Merlot, ChardonnayFounded 1735Bertani family (Gaetano Bertani branch)Negrar di Valpolicella
The Gaetano Bertani branch of the family works from the Novare estate in Negrar, dating its winemaking to 1735 and covering Amarone Classico Riserva, Valpolicella Ripasso Classico and Recioto alongside Soave.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, MolinaraVogadori familyNegrar di Valpolicella
Small family cellar at Vigolo in Negrar producing Valpolicella Classico, Ripasso, Amarone and Recioto, plus an olive oil pressed from the trees standing in the vineyard.
Tasting: Cellar tasting hosted by the family, booked directly.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, MolinaraFounded 1906Recchia familyNegrar di Valpolicella
The Recchia family has grown grapes at Cà Bertoldi in Negrar since 1906. The family house doubles as the tasting room and the harvest for Recioto and Amarone starts in mid September.
Tasting: Guided visits and tastings at the family house in Negrar.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaFounded 1902ORGANIC CERTIFIEDValgatara, Marano di Valpolicella
Valgatara estate working since 1902 under the Cà la Bionda name, farming organically across a range built on Valpolicella Classico, Ripasso, Amarone and Recioto.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaORGANIC CERTIFIEDMarano di Valpolicella
Organic estate in the Novaia hamlet of Marano, a member of the Consorzio Tutela Vini della Valpolicella, the Strada del Vino Valpolicella and the Biodistretto della Valpolicella.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaElena and Federico CoatiValgatara
Small Valgatara estate run by Elena and Federico Coati from a restored courtyard farm, producing the four Valpolicella styles from the Marano valley slopes.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella9.0 haFounded 1992Pier Paolo and Stefano AntoliniPrognol, Marano di Valpolicella
Pier Paolo and Stefano Antolini have farmed at Prognol in Marano since 1992, working about nine hectares of family vineyard between 150 and 350 metres, with a further plot at Semonte in San Pietro in Cariano since 1993.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaCastellani familyValgatara
Valgatara house bottling the I Castei and Ca del Pipa lines, from Valpolicella Classico and Ripasso Classico Superiore up to Amarone Classico and the Campo Casalin selection.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara, Cabernet SauvignonMarano di Valpolicella
Boutique cellar perched at around 500 metres on the Marano hills, run by the fifth generation of the family across Valpolicella Classico, Superiore, Ripasso, Amarone and Recioto.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaCampagnola familyORGANIC CERTIFIEDValgatara
Family house at Valgatara whose certified organic estate vineyards sit alongside fruit from more than fifty contracted growers across roughly eighty hectares in the Marano comune, with a cellar visit programme.
Tasting: Cellar visit with a tasting of Valpolicella Ripasso, Valpolicella Superiore and Amarone.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaVaona familyORGANIC CERTIFIEDValgatara, Marano di Valpolicella
Organic family cellar at Paverno in Valgatara. The whole family works the drying racks that feed the Recioto and Amarone.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, GarganegaFounded 1900Degani familyValgatara
The Degani family traces its Valgatara winemaking to the early 1900s and still handles drying, vinification and bottling in house across Valpolicella Classico, Superiore, Ripasso, Amarone and Recioto.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara22.0 haFounded 1870Marco and Enrico CampagnolaValgatara, Marano di Valpolicella
Fifth-generation Valgatara estate with 22 hectares across the Valgatara and Marano hills. The Gaso terraces at around 400 metres have been worked since 1870.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella100.0 haAllegrini familyFumane
Fumane house whose vineyard holdings run to a little over 100 hectares in the Valpolicella Classico zone. Francesco, Giovanni, Matteo and Silvia Allegrini run it today, on the legacy of Giovanni Allegrini.
Tasting: Showroom and estate visits at Fumane, booked through the estate.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaMarco SperiWinemaker Marco SperiFumane
Marco Speri's own cellar at Campolongo in Fumane, with a deliberately short range: Valpolicella Classico, Ripasso, Amarone and Recioto.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaCottini familyFumane
Cottini family cellar at Ponte Scrivan in Fumane, three generations of growers handling the whole cycle from vineyard to bottle across Valpolicella, Ripasso, Amarone and the Carpane and Twenty selections.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella10.0 haFounded 1969Cubi and Nordera familyORGANIC CERTIFIEDCasterna, Fumane
Valentina Cubi and Giancarlo Nordera bought seven hectares at Casterna in 1969, now ten, on the Monte Tenda and Monte Crosetta slopes. The estate farms organically and runs an agriturismo.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaScamperle familyFumane
Scamperle family estate in the centre of Fumane, working the Classico range from Valpolicella through Ripasso to Amarone and Recioto.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, MolinaraOsan, Fumane
Estate in the Osan hamlet of Fumane with a tower and terraced hillside plots. Its Amandorlato Recioto della Valpolicella Classico sits between sweet Recioto and dry Amarone, and part of the range is certified organic.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella6.5 haRagno familyWinemaker Zeno ZignoliFumane
Zeno Zignoli works six to seven hectares on the ridge that climbs from Bure at 220 metres to Mazzurega at 430 metres, land the Ragno family has farmed for five generations.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, OseletaSant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella
Masi works from Gargagnago in Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella and is the producer that replanted Oseleta in the early 1980s after phylloxera had all but wiped it out. Its Monteleone21 site next door handles visits.
Tasting: Tastings and estate visits at Monteleone21 in Gargagnago.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaFounded 1789Ferrari familyORGANIC CERTIFIEDGargagnago, Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella
Ferrari family estate at Gargagnago that dates its winemaking to 1789 and is certified organic by ABCERT, with Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG at the head of the range.
Tasting: Wine tastings at the Gargagnago cellar.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaAccordini familySan Pietro in Cariano
Accordini family house in San Pietro in Cariano bottling the Le Bessole and Le Viole lines through Valpolicella Superiore, Ripasso Superiore and Amarone della Valpolicella.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaCelestino GaspariWinemaker Celestino GaspariSan Floriano, San Pietro in Cariano
Celestino Gaspari's cellar at San Floriano, cut into an old quarry, working Valpolicella and Amarone alongside experimental bottlings from rare local varieties.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaFounded 1811San Pietro in Cariano
Pedemonte house dating its wine trade to 1811, working from a Palladian villa with gardens and fountains and a recently rebuilt cellar.
Tasting: Booked hospitality experiences at the Pedemonte villa.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, MolinaraFounded 1951Nicolis familySan Pietro in Cariano
Three generations of the Nicolis family have made wine at San Pietro in Cariano since 1951, with the Seccal Ripasso Classico Superiore and the Ambrosan Amarone as the reference bottlings.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara, Oseleta, DindarellaCarlo VenturiniBiodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDCastelrotto, San Pietro in Cariano
Carlo Venturini farms biodynamically at Castelrotto, vinifying each vineyard separately and fermenting Valpolicella in small steel vats and Amarone in wood. The Sant'Ulderico Recioto leads the range.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Garganega, Trebbiano di SoaveMarchesi Fumanelli familySan Pietro in Cariano
The Fumanelli family has made wine at Squarano for over five centuries. Its Amarone Classico and the Octavius Riserva are built on 40 percent Corvina, 40 percent Corvinone and 20 percent Rondinella.
Valpolicella Classico DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaTommasi familySan Pietro in Cariano
Tommasi Family Estates is based at Ronchetto in San Pietro in Cariano and runs wine hospitality and wine tours from the Valpolicella Classico home estate.
Tasting: Wine hospitality programme and guided wine tours from the San Pietro in Cariano estate.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaSperi familyORGANIC CERTIFIEDPedemonte, San Pietro in Cariano
Seven generations of the Speri family in Valpolicella Classico, farming organically and running a visits programme alongside the Amarone range.
Tasting: Estate visits and tastings, booked through the winery.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaTedeschi familyPedemonte, San Pietro in Cariano
Family house in San Pietro in Cariano with the Capitel Monte Olmi and Fabriseria Amarone Classico Riserva bottlings and the Maternigo estate in the eastern valleys.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella12.0 haBegali familySan Pietro in Cariano
Azienda Agricola Begali Lorenzo is a family operation of about twelve hectares in the small Cengia hamlet, named for the rock ledges above it, in the Valpolicella Classico zone.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella48.0 haFounded 1928Cesari familySan Pietro in Cariano
The Cesari family has held Brigaldara since 1928. The property runs to over 120 hectares of which 48 are planted to vine, and the Amarone range includes the Case Vecie and Riserva bottlings.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaPescantina
Buglioni works vineyards in Valpolicella and Lugana from a base at Settimo di Pescantina, and runs its own osteria alongside the cellar.
Dal Forno Romano ★ 4.9
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaDal Forno familyIllasi
Estate at Lodoletta in Cellore d'Illasi, in the eastern Valpolicella valleys, listed in the Consorzio Tutela Vini Valpolicella register. Its Amarone and its Valpolicella Superiore both carry the Monte Lodoletta site name, and being outside the Classico zone neither is labelled Classico.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaFounded 1924Trabucchi familyORGANIC CERTIFIEDMonte Tenda, Illasi
Estate on Monte Tenda above Illasi producing since 1924 and certified organic for more than thirty years, across Valpolicella Superiore, Amarone and Recioto della Valpolicella.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Oseleta, CroatinaLuca Anselmi and Sofia KherkeladzeWinemaker Luca AnselmiPigno, Illasi
Third-generation family holding of about 85 years standing in the comune of Illasi on the Mezzane valley side, run by Luca Anselmi and Sofia Kherkeladze, with an organic olive oil alongside the wines.
Valpolicella DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaPra familyWinemaker Flavio PraIllasi
Flavio Pra's estate at Allodola in Cellore d'Illasi, a fourth-generation family holding that matches each variety to the plot that suits it.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Garganega17.0 haFounded 1996Mezzane di Sotto
Estate working since 1996 in the Val di Mezzane between 200 and 300 metres, with 16 to 17 hectares of owned vineyard plus two hectares of woodland and one of olives.
Valpolicella DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaMarinella CameraniDemeter CertifiedORGANIC CERTIFIEDMezzane di Sotto
Marinella Camerani's estate at Cà Fioi in the Mezzane valley, registered with the Consorzio Tutela Vini Valpolicella as Azienda Agricola Camerani Marinella.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaFounded 1883Cracco family, led by Camilla Rossi ChauvenetORGANIC CERTIFIEDMezzane di Sotto
Estate in the Mezzane valley held by the Cracco family since 1883 and relaunched in 2003 under Camilla Rossi Chauvenet, with certified organic production, a relais, a fruttaio and a range of Amarone, Ripasso and Valpolicella.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Garganega45.0 haMorini familyMezzane di Sotto
The Morini family farms 45 hectares split between the Val di Mezzane and the Soave hills, with an organic line alongside the Leon Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, DurellaFounded 1945Marchi familyTregnago
Three generations at Tregnago in the upper Illasi valley since Gino Marchi started in 1945, with a barrel room and bottle caveau open to visitors and a range from Durello sparkling to Amarone.
Tasting: Guided visit taking in the barrel room, the vinification hall and the bottle caveau.
Valpolicella DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaSan Martino Buon Albergo
Small estate at Borgo in San Martino Buon Albergo, in the southeastern Valpolicella zone, listed in the Consorzio Tutela Vini Valpolicella register.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, GarganegaBiodynamic PracticingFerrazzette, San Martino Buon Albergo
Biodynamic estate of nearly 400 hectares around a restored sixteenth-century courtyard at Ferrazzette, part of the Triple A grouping since 2018, with a relais and a tasting programme.
Tasting: Tasting of Drago Rose Corvinone IGT, Drago Bianco Garganega IGT, Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso and Amarone from 30 euro per person.
Amarone della Valpolicella Valpantena DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, Rondinella17.0 haGrezzana
Single block of 35 hectares in the Valpantena of which 17 are planted to vine and the rest to woodland and olives, producing Amarone della Valpolicella Valpantena DOCG from Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella.
Valpolicella Valpantena DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaGrezzana
Winery, wine resort and restaurant at Erbin above Romagnano in the Valpantena, with a converted hay barn now used as the Theatro events space.
Tasting: Cellar visits, restaurant and wine resort stays in the Valpantena.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaFounded 1857Angelini Wines and EstatesGrezzana
House trading since 1857, now part of Angelini Wines and Estates, with its cellars at Grezzana in the Valpantena and a library of historic Amarone della Valpolicella Classico vintages.
Tasting: Winery store open Tuesday to Saturday, 9.30 to 13.00 and 14.30 to 18.00.
Amarone della Valpolicella Valpantena DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaFounded 1960Tezza familyValpantena
Valpantena growers at Poiano founded in 1960 and run since 1998 by cousins Federico, Flavio and Vanio Tezza, with organic Valpolicella Valpantena bottlings and the Brolo delle Giare Amarone and Recioto.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaPasqua familyValpolicella Allargata
Pasqua Vigneti e Cantine works from Via Belvedere in Verona and is listed in the Consorzio Tutela Vini Valpolicella register, with an Amarone and Valpolicella range alongside its wider Italian portfolio.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaNegrar di Valpolicella
Negrar estate at Casetta di Montecchio working the full colour range from pale Valpolicella Classico DOC through to Amarone, with Recioto still made from the bunches brought into the courtyard by cart.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, TurbianaAppointment onlyFumane
Renaissance villa at Fumane designed by Giulio Romano and Michele Sanmicheli, bought by Marilisa Allegrini in 2008 and a working winery since 2019, with guided tastings in the mascaron rooms.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Garganega, Chardonnay, MerlotAppointment onlyArbizzano, Negrar di ValpolicellaWine shop open daily 09:30-18:00; guided visits daily in Italian and English
Eighteenth-century villa and cellar at Novare in Arbizzano, where Ippolito Pindemonte held his literary salon, with daily tours of the frescoed Salone delle Muse, the drying lofts and the brolo.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara, GarganegaWalk-ins welcomeNegrar di ValpolicellaMon-Sat 09:00-12:30, 15:00-19:00
Shop and tasting counter of the 1933 Negrar cooperative, whose 240 members farm 700 hectares across the Classico hills, pouring the Domini Veneti selections beside the cellar itself.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, OseletaWalk-ins welcomePedemonte, San Pietro in CarianoMon-Thu 10:00-18:00; Fri-Sat 10:00-18:30; Sun 10:00-13:00 from June to September
The Tommasi family shop and visitor cellar at Pedemonte, open six days a week for tastings of the Valpolicella Classico, Ripasso and Amarone range including the Ca' Florian cru.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Garganega, Pinot GrigioAppointment onlyFumane
Cotti family cellar on the Fumane valley floor running three set tasting flights, from an entry white and Valpolicella pour up to the Amarone and Recioto selections.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara, OseletaAppointment onlyOsan, Fumane
Fifteenth-century fortified court at Osan above Fumane, tasting an unusual range that keeps the old Amandorlato style alongside Recioto, Ripasso and three Amarone bottlings.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, MolinaraAppointment onlyFumane
Scamperle family cellar in the village of Fumane, pouring the Ca' Carnocchio and Pergole Vece Amarone selections in a working cellar rather than a visitor centre.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara, GarganegaAppointment onlyFumane
Marco Speri's own cellar at Campolongo in Fumane, working long macerations and large Slavonian casks for a deliberately traditional reading of Amarone and Recioto.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, OseletaAppointment onlyJago, Negrar di Valpolicella
Enrico Cascella Spinosa's estate on the Jago hill above Negrar, where the Albasini Amarone has taken Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri and the villa also runs a chamber music festival.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, MolinaraAppointment onlySan Peretto, Negrar di Valpolicella
Small family cellar at Crosetta in Negrar working the Poiega and Vigneto Calcarole plots, with tastings led by the family in the cellar under the house.
Corvina, Corvinone, RondinellaAppointment onlyMazzano, Negrar di Valpolicella
Claudio Viviani's cellar high at Mazzano above Negrar, where the Casa dei Bepi Amarone is bottled only in vintages the family judges worth it.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara, Cabernet SauvignonAppointment onlyArbizzano, Negrar di Valpolicella
Hillside estate above Arbizzano replanted by Marta and Arnaldo Galli from the 1960s, tasting Valpolicella Classico Superiore and long-aged Amarone at the cellar.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, MolinaraAppointment onlyNegrar di Valpolicella
Recchia brothers' cellar at Ca' Bertoldi in the Jago valley of Negrar, a straightforward family tasting across Valpolicella Classico, Ripasso, Amarone and Recioto.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara, GarganegaAppointment onlyMarano di Valpolicella
Certified organic Vaona family estate on the Novaia terraces at Marano, where the tasting runs through Corte Vaona, Le Balze and the Amarone selections.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, OseletaAppointment onlyPrognol, Marano di Valpolicella
Brothers Pier Paolo and Stefano Antolini receive visitors at Prognol in Marano, pouring the Moropio and Ca' Coato bottlings from the high Marano terraces.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, MolinaraAppointment onlyValgatara, Marano di Valpolicella
Campagnola family cellar at Valgatara farming 22 hectares on Veronese pergola since 1870, with tastings across the San Rustico and Gaso lines plus their Amarone grappa.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, MolinaraAppointment onlyValgatara, Marano di Valpolicella
Certified organic Vaona cellar on Via Paverno at Valgatara, a short family tasting through Valpolicella Classico, Ripasso and Amarone in the working cellar.
Corvina, Corvinone, RondinellaAppointment onlyValgatara, Marano di Valpolicella
Certified organic Castellani estate in the Bionda valley at Valgatara, tasting single-vineyard Ravazzol and Casal Vegri alongside the classic Valpolicella range.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara, OseletaAppointment onlyCastelrotto, San Pietro in Cariano
Carlo Venturini and Alessandra Zantedeschi farm dry-stone terraces above Castelrotto biodynamically, tasting Saseti, Camporenzo and Sant'Ulderico in the old cellar.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Oseleta, Garganega, Cabernet FrancAppointment onlySan Floriano, San Pietro in Cariano
Celestino Gaspari's cellar built into a disused sandstone quarry at San Floriano, worked since the fifteenth century, tasting the Kairos blend and the Oseleta-led reds underground.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, MolinaraAppointment onlyPedemonte, San Pietro in Cariano
Seventh-generation Speri family cellar at Pedemonte, certified organic, with tastings centred on the Monte Sant'Urbano single-vineyard Amarone and the Vigneto La Roverina.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Oseleta, Rossignola, DindarellaAppointment onlyPedemonte, San Pietro in Cariano
Tedeschi family cellar at Pedemonte, known for the Monte Olmi and La Fabriseria crus and for replanting minor Veronese grapes such as Dindarella and Rossignola.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, OseletaAppointment onlySan Pietro in Cariano
Lorenzo Begali's cellar at Cengia below the Castelrotto hill, where a booked visit walks the vineyard, the fermentation hall, the fruttaio and the cask cellar before a seated tasting of the estate's seven wines.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara, GarganegaAppointment onlyMezzane di Sotto
Marinella Camerani's biodynamic estate in the eastern valley of Mezzane, tasting Mithas and Valpolicella Superiore among the woods and pasture that surround the vines.
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, GarganegaAppointment onlyMezzane di Sotto
Camilla Rossi Chauvenet took over the 1883 family house at Mezzane in 2003 and turned it organic in 2008, with certification in 2014 and a tasting room beside the relais.
Valpolicella Classico DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaNicola FerrariSantoccio, Fumane
Small Fumane cellar on the Santoccio slope, worked at a scale that keeps every bottle in the family's hands and visits down to one group at a time.
Tip: Write ahead. The cellar is a working farm building at the end of a track above Fumane, not a visitor centre.
Valpolicella Classico DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaMarognole, Valgatara, Marano di Valpolicella
Family cellar on the Marognole terraces above Valgatara, named after the dry-stone walls that hold the slope and working the cooler Marano profile.
Tip: Combine it with Cà la Bionda and Vaona Odino: all three are within a few minutes of each other on the Valgatara side.
Valpolicella Classico DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaSan Pietro in Cariano
Family cellar and shop on Via Don Cesare Biasi in San Pietro in Cariano, open six days a week and unusual in the valley for taking walk-in visitors.
Tip: Open Monday to Saturday 08:30 to 12:30 and 14:00 to 19:30, which makes it the easiest unplanned stop in San Pietro in Cariano.
Valpolicella Classico DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaValena, San Pietro in Cariano
Estate on Via Valena at San Pietro in Cariano bottling the Valpolicella range plus its own Grappa di Amarone, well off the main visitor circuit.
Tip: Ask for the Grappa di Amarone at the end of the tasting; it is bottled from the estate's own appassimento pomace.
Valpolicella Classico DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaEUR 10-16 at retailstill-red
Lorenzo Begali's entry red from the Cengia slopes, fermented without appassimento and built for early drinking rather than cellaring.
Tip: The step up is Siora, the Classico Superiore, at roughly EUR 16 to 24. Taste both side by side at the cellar.
Valpolicella Classico DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaEUR 10-16 at retailstill-red
The Coati family's base Valpolicella from the Rugolin hamlet above Valgatara, the cheapest way into a cellar better known for its Amarone.
Tip: The SanGiorgio Classico Superiore sits around EUR 18 to 26 and is the bottling to take home if you have room for one.
Valpolicella Classico DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaEUR 10-16 at retailstill-red
Straightforward Valgatara red from the Degani family, sour-cherry driven and made for the table rather than the cellar.
Tip: Degani are on the Via dell'Artigianato at Valgatara, an easy stop between Marano and San Pietro in Cariano.
Valpolicella Classico DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaEUR 11-17 at retailstill-red
Cotti family Valpolicella from Fumane, described by the estate as harmonious and savoury with an intense nose, and the opening pour of the First Impressions flight.
Tip: Scriani ship from their own online shop, useful if you are travelling with hand luggage only.
Valpolicella Classico DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaEUR 11-17 at retailstill-red
Pier Paolo and Stefano Antolini's base red from the high Marano terraces at Prognol, a cooler site that keeps the acidity firm.
Tip: Persegà, the Classico Superiore, runs around EUR 18 to 26 and shows what the Marano altitude does with a longer ageing.
Valpolicella Classico DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaEUR 11-17 at retailstill-red
The Galli family's entry Valpolicella from the hillside above Arbizzano, from vineyards the family replanted from the 1960s onward.
Tip: Le Sassine, the Classico Superiore, is the next step at roughly EUR 20 to 30 and drinks well at five years.
Valpolicella Classico DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaEUR 11-17 at retailstill-red
Certified organic Valpolicella from the Vaona cellar at Valgatara, priced in the same band as the uncertified reds around it.
Tip: The label carries the organic certification mark. Ask at the cellar which parcels on Via Paverno went into the vintage.
Valpolicella Classico DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaEUR 12-18 at retailstill-red
Certified organic Valpolicella from the Casterna slope above Fumane, named after the Saint John's wort that grows in the vineyard.
Tip: The operating cellar is at Via Casterna 60 in Fumane even though the registered office is in San Pietro in Cariano.
Valpolicella Classico DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaEUR 12-18 at retailstill-red
Certified organic entry red from the Vaona family terraces at Marano, the lightest wine in a range that runs up to Amarone.
Tip: Novaia also bottle Fapulito, a second Classico at roughly EUR 14 to 20, from a separate parcel.
Valpolicella Classico DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaEUR 12-18 at retailstill-red
Certified organic Valpolicella from the Castellani brothers at Valgatara, the entry point to a range that includes the Ravazzol and Casalvegri crus.
Tip: Casalvegri, the Classico Superiore, is around EUR 20 to 28 and is the bottle to buy if you can stretch the budget once.
Valpolicella Classico DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaEUR 12-18 at retailstill-red
Claudio Viviani's base red from the high Mazzano vineyards, the same terraces that feed the Casa dei Bepi Amarone.
Tip: Mazzano sits high on the ridge above Negrar. The base Classico is the cheapest way to taste fruit from that altitude.
Valpolicella Classico DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaEUR 14-20 at retailstill-red
Marco Speri's entry red from Fumane, made in the same deliberately traditional register as the Amarone but without the drying.
Tip: This is the cheapest bottle in a cellar built on long macerations and big Slavonian casks, so it reads older than its price.
Valpolicella Classico DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaEUR 14-20 at retailstill-red
Biodynamically farmed Valpolicella from the dry-stone terraces at Castelrotto, the entry bottle from Carlo Venturini and Alessandra Zantedeschi.
Tip: Saseti is the estate's entry bottling. Camporenzo and San Giorgio Alto climb to EUR 20 to 40 and sell out at the cellar.
Valpolicella Classico DOCCorvina, Corvinone, RondinellaEUR 11-17 at retailstill-red
The Nicolis family's base Valpolicella from San Pietro in Cariano, a everyday Classico from an estate better known for its Ambrosan Amarone.
Tip: The cellar sits on Via Villa Girardi, a short detour from the SP4 as you drive up the valley.