19 editor-picked estates growing Molinara in Veneto.
Where to taste Molinara in Veneto: the estates that grow it, how the region expresses the grape, and how to book a visit.
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.
Tasting: By appointment only; tastings at the historic cellar in Negrar. Very limited availability.
Signature wines: quintarelli-amarone-classico, quintarelli-alzero, quintarelli-recioto-classico
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.
Tasting: By appointment only; private estate visit at Cellore d'Illasi.
Signature wines: dal-forno-amarone-valpolicella, dal-forno-valpolicella-superiore
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.
Tasting: Estate visits and tastings at Serego Alighieri guest property and the Gargagnago winery.
Signature wines: masi-costasera-amarone, masi-campolongo-di-torbe, masi-campofiorin
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.
Tasting: Cellar tours and tastings bookable at the Novare estate; group and trade visits by appointment.
Signature wines: bertani-amarone-classico, bertani-valpolicella-ripasso
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.
Tasting: Wine tasting and cellar visits at the San Pietro in Cariano estate; bookable online.
Signature wines: tommasi-amarone-classico, tommasi-valpolicella-ripasso, tommasi-amarone-ca-florian
Six-generation family estate on the Monte Masua and Sant'Urbano hillsides of Fumane. Among the most traditional producers in the Classico zone; Luca Speri is the current winemaker.
Tasting: Cellar visits and seated tastings by appointment at San Pietro in Cariano.
Signature wines: speri-amarone-classico, speri-amarone-monte-sant-urbano
Family-run estate at the top of the Marano valley producing structured, traditional Amarone and Valpolicella from old vineyards on volcanic soils.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment on the Marano hillside estate.
Signature wines: ca-la-bionda-amarone-classico, ca-la-bionda-valpolicella-classico
Marinella Camerani's biodynamic estate in the Mezzane valley has been Demeter-certified since 2003. The Mithas Amarone and Soraigo Valpolicella are made with minimal intervention and long ageing in large oak.
Tasting: Estate visits and tastings by appointment at Mezzane di Sotto; biodynamic vineyard tours available.
Signature wines: corte-santalda-amarone-mithas, corte-santalda-soraigo
One of the oldest estates in Bardolino, with records dating to 1649, Guerrieri Rizzardi operates vineyards on both Lake Garda shores and in Valpolicella. The on-site Museo del Vino is one of Italy's leading wine museums.
Tasting: Wine museum Museo del Vino di Bardolino on-site; open daily including tasting flight.
Signature wines: guerrieri-rizzardi-bardolino-classico, guerrieri-rizzardi-tacchetto-chiaretto
The Nicolis family has farmed the Villa Girardi estate in San Pietro in Cariano since 1951. The Ambrosan single-vineyard Amarone from the oldest family vines is their prestige bottling.
Tasting: Wine visits and tastings at San Pietro in Cariano by appointment.
Signature wines: nicolis-amarone-classico, nicolis-ambrosan-amarone
Claudio Viviani farms old Corvina and Rondinella vines on the Mazzano ridge in Negrar, producing a tiny-production Amarone Campo Morar from the estate's highest plots with notable freshness and longevity.
Tasting: Visits and tastings at the Mazzano estate by appointment.
Signature wines: viviani-amarone-campo-morar, viviani-valpolicella-classico
Founded in 1889 at the Lake Garda waterfront in Bardolino, Cantine Campagnola is one of the appellation's oldest estates producing light, food-friendly Bardolino Superiore DOCG and a range of Valpolicella.
Tasting: Visits and tastings at the Bardolino cellar; daily opening.
Signature wines: campagnola-bardolino-classico, campagnola-valpolicella-classico
Bertani's renewed historic tasting spaces preserve 45 vintages of Amarone della Valpolicella Classico alongside new contemporary design elements. The Library Experience (EUR200) accesses back-vintages from 1958; the standard Valpolicella experience (EUR70) covers current and recent releases. Book via bertani.net/esperienze.
Tip: The Library Experience is among the most significant Amarone vertical tastings available anywhere in Italy - plan 3 hours.
Opened 2025, Monteleone21 is Masi's new 'open cellar' paradigm in Valpolicella Classica. The Wine Bar 'Vino e Cucina' is walk-in accessible. Structured tours include the fruttaio appassimento loft, Possessioni Serego Alighieri cellars, and hillside vineyards. Most complete public-access Amarone production experience in the region.
Tip: Arrive before 11:00 for structured tours; the Wine Bar opens at 12:00 for informal tastings with food pairings.
One of Valpolicella's few Demeter-certified biodynamic estates, run by Carlo and Alessandra Venturini in Castelrotto. Long-maceration Valpolicella and Amarone with no fining or filtering; the wines age particularly well.
Tip: The Saseti Valpolicella Classico Superiore is the accessible entry wine; visit the estate in Castelrotto for a hillside tasting with Alessandra.
A light, elegant Valpolicella Classico from one of the appellation's most export-focused estates. Sour cherry, dried rose petal and a hint of bitter almond on the palate; light tannins and fresh acidity. The straightforward Classico is the everyday drinking companion to the estate's Amarone and Recioto.
Tip: Serve lightly chilled at 14-16 degrees C; excellent with pizza, pasta with tomato-based sauces or mild salumi.
Masi's Bonacosta is one of the most consistently available entry-level Valpolicella Classico on the market. Light garnet, cherry and plum fruit with the signature bitter-cherry note of Corvina; soft tannins for everyday enjoyment. An ideal introduction to the Valpolicella zone before exploring Ripasso and Amarone.
Tip: Masi's Campofiorin (Ripasso style) is the natural step up from Bonacosta; try them side by side to understand the appassimento effect.
A serious Valpolicella Classico Superiore from Le Ragose in Arbizzano, one of the historically significant family estates in the Classico zone. The Superiore designation requires longer ageing and higher minimum alcohol; this wine shows dried cherry, spice and a darker fruit character typical of hill-grown Corvina at its most concentrated below the Amarone level.
Tip: Le Ragose's Valpolicella Superiore is an excellent cellar introduction to the estate before investing in their Amarone; shows the same hillside DNA at a fraction of the price.
The entry Valpolicella Classico from Marinella Camerani's Demeter-certified biodynamic estate in Mezzane di Sotto. Light and precise, showing fresh cherry, herbs and the estate's characteristic biodynamic vitality. Among the few certified biodynamic Valpolicella Classico wines available under EUR 20.
Tip: An ideal gateway wine for natural-wine drinkers discovering Valpolicella; shows how the appellation can produce light, precise reds from biodynamic hillside farming.