Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Producer: giuseppe-quintarelli
Price: EUR 400-600 at retail
Italy's most prolific and diverse wine region, from Valpolicella's Amarone DOCG and Soave Classico to the UNESCO Prosecco Superiore hills of Conegliano Valdobbiadene and Lake Garda's Lugana.
Drink your way through Veneto
Map of Veneto
Every vineyard, tasting room, wine bar and cellar we cover in Veneto, pinned. Click a pin for the page.
Signature wines of Veneto
The iconic bottles that define Veneto.
Dal Forno Romano Amarone della Valpolicella
Producer: dal-forno-romano
Price: EUR 350-600 at retail
Masi Mazzano Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Producer: masi-agricola
Price: EUR 150-250 at retail
Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Producer: bertani
Price: EUR 90-160 at retail
Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Fieramonte
Producer: allegrini
Price: EUR 200-350 at retail
Giuseppe Quintarelli Recioto della Valpolicella Classico
Producer: giuseppe-quintarelli
Price: EUR 250-400 at retail (500ml)
Vineyards to know in Veneto
A handful of the estates we send friends to when they are in Veneto.
Giuseppe Quintarelli
The legendary Negrar estate founded in 1924, now run by Giuseppe's daughter Fiorenza. Quintarelli's Amarone and Recioto are benchmark expressions of dried-grape Valpolicella winemaking, aged for years before release.
Signature: quintarelli-amarone-classico, quintarelli-alzero, quintarelli-recioto-classico
Dal Forno Romano
Founded by Romano Dal Forno in 1983 in the Illasi valley, outside the Classico zone. Tiny production, extremely low yields and very long maceration produce arguably the most powerful Amarone in the region.
Signature: dal-forno-amarone-valpolicella, dal-forno-valpolicella-superiore
Allegrini
Multi-generation family estate at Fumane at the heart of Valpolicella Classico. Allegrini pioneered single-vineyard bottlings in the zone and is widely credited with modernising Amarone's international profile in the 1980s under Giovanni Allegrini.
Signature: allegrini-amarone-classico, allegrini-la-poja, allegrini-palazzo-della-torre
Masi Agricola
One of Valpolicella's oldest and most recognisable names, founded in 1772. The Boscaini family pioneered the ripasso technique. The historic Serego Alighieri property owned by Dante Alighieri's descendants is part of the Masi portfolio.
Signature: masi-costasera-amarone, masi-campolongo-di-torbe, masi-campofiorin
Bertani
A founding force in Valpolicella winemaking since 1857, Bertani codified the long-maceration Amarone style. Owned by Tenimenti Angelini since 2021 and still operating from the historic Novare cellars.
Signature: bertani-amarone-classico, bertani-valpolicella-ripasso
Tommasi Viticoltori
Family estate in San Pietro in Cariano producing Amarone, Valpolicella and Ripasso across multiple vineyard parcels in the Classico zone since 1902. Fourth-generation winemaker Giancarlo oversees production.
Signature: tommasi-amarone-classico, tommasi-valpolicella-ripasso, tommasi-amarone-ca-florian
Sub-appellations of Veneto
Valpolicella Classico (Valpolicella Classico/Classico zone/Valpolicella storico)
Limestone ridges and cherry orchards north of Verona where fruttai drying lofts turn Corvina into Italy's most powerful dry red.
Valpantena (Valpantena/Valpolicella Valpantena)
A quieter eastern valley where Bertani's historic Novare cellars age long-maceration Amarone in large Slavonian oak casks.
Soave Classico (Soave Classico/Soave Superiore/Soave storico)
Medieval walled hilltop town with Scaligeri castle overlooking volcanic terraced vineyards that produce Italy's finest Garganega.
Conegliano Valdobbiadene (Valdobbiadene DOCG/Prosecco Superiore/Cartizze/Rive di Valdobbiadene)
UNESCO-listed patchwork of steep-terraced Glera hillsides where mist-draped mornings give way to extraordinary views across the Treviso plain.
Asolo Prosecco (Asolo DOCG/Colli Asolani Prosecco/Asolo Prosecco Superiore)
Romantic medieval walled town of Asolo on a wooded hilltop surrounded by Glera vineyards and a quieter, more artisanal Prosecco DOCG tradition.
Bardolino (Bardolino Classico/Chiaretto di Bardolino)
Lakeside Garda tourism meets Italy's lightest-touch Corvina reds and pale salmon Chiaretto rosato at restaurants facing the water.
Veneto wine, FAQ
When is the best time to visit Veneto for wine?
Peak wine-travel season in Veneto is spring through autumn, with harvest the standout window.
Do I need an appointment to taste at Veneto estates?
classified-growth and grand-cru estates require booking days to weeks ahead; smaller family domaines often take walk-ins midweek.
What hours do Veneto 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 Veneto 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 Veneto?
If you only open one bottle, open Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico by giuseppe-quintarelli. It is the wine most associated with Veneto.