Aged cheese in Veneto

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Bold

Allegrini's estate Amarone Classico blends Corvina and Corvinone in nearly equal measure with a small percentage of Oseleta; the result is a polished, internationally styled Amarone with plush dried-fruit concentration and a refined tannin frame.

Dry · Light-bodied · Racy acidity · Funky · Savoury

Col Fondo (with sediment) is the traditional method of making Prosecco before the Charmat process became dominant. Bele Casel's version undergoes secondary fermentation in bottle, leaving the lees (col fondo), resulting in a cloudy, autolytic character that is the antithesis of the commercial tank-method style.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Bertani's Amarone is the reference for the traditional, extremely long-aged style: minimum eight years in large Slavonian oak produces a garrigue-herb and leather-inflected wine of remarkable freshness and longevity, lighter in colour than modern Amarone but strikingly complex.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Bertani's Villa Novare is the prestige Amarone from their historic Novare estate, given six years in Slavonian oak producing a wine of extraordinary complexity and longevity; perhaps the most authentically traditional Amarone Riserva-style bottling in the appellation.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Bold

Brigaldara's Classico Amarone is known for its precise, traditional approach: careful appassimento in the estate's fruttai and mixed Slavonian/French oak ageing producing a structured, age-worthy expression.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Bold · Contemplative

Il Vegro is Brigaldara's prestige single-vineyard Amarone from the Il Vegro parcel; higher Oseleta concentration and extended ageing in a mix of small and large casks produce a richer, spicier expression than the estate Classico, with excellent concentration and structure.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Contemplative

Ca' La Bionda's Amarone reflects the volcanic and calcareous soils of the Marano valley top: a mineral, iron-inflected style with high acidity and a savoury character quite distinct from estates lower in the valley.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Rustic

Castel Caina is Ca' La Bionda's premium single-vineyard selection from the highest Marano valley plots at the foot of the ancient Caina hill; the volcanic soils produce even greater mineral depth and acidity than the estate Classico, with outstanding ageing potential.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Bold

Domaso is the cooperative's flagship single-vineyard Amarone from the 14-hectare Maternigo hill parcel, showing appreciably greater concentration and mineral precision than the estate-level wine; the earthy, tobacco-cedar style reflects the Maternigo terroir's calcareous character.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Bold · Contemplative

Campagnola's Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is produced from appassimento-dried Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella grapes from the Classico hills. Two to three years in large Slavonian oak develop the characteristic dried fruit, dark chocolate and tobacco complexity of the DOCG's flagship wine.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Bold

The most powerful and extracted Amarone on the market: tiny yields, four-month drying, four years in small French oak. Immense concentration of dried fruit, dark chocolate and iron. Built for multi-decade cellaring.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Bold

Quintarelli's Bordeaux varieties treated to the Valpolicella appassimento method: dried Cabernet and Merlot producing extraordinary density, graphite-inflected fruit and a seamlessly long finish.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

The definitive benchmark Amarone: monumental concentration from multi-variety appassimento, extraordinary aromatic depth of dried fruit, leather and tobacco, with firm but resolved tannins and a finish of exceptional length.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Bold · Contemplative

A blend of local Corvina with international Cabernet in the Quintarelli style: concentrated, savoury and structured, with the Bordeaux varieties adding colour and spine to the Valpolicella base.

Dry · Full-bodied · High tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Bold

Guerrieri Rizzardi's Amarone expresses the Classico zone from an estate with over 350 years of Valpolicella history. The extended appassimento (drying) of Corvina and Corvinone grapes concentrates flavour into a wine of great intensity. Three years in Slavonian botti soften the tannins while preserving the dried-fruit character.

Dry · Medium-bodied · High tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Bold

Raboso Piave is one of Italy's most ancient and austere red grapes, native to the Piave river plains in Treviso province. Italo Cescon has championed its rehabilitation since the 1960s. High tannin and acid give the wine its characteristic austerity, but serious age-worthiness.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Bold

Le Salette's estate Amarone Classico, from the high-altitude Fumane vineyards farmed by Monica Scamperle, shows the distinctive freshness and orange-peel note that characterise the estate's high-elevation fruit; a more approachable entry to the Le Salette style than the Pergole Vece.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Rustic

Pergole Vece is from Le Salette's century-old pergola-trained Corvina vines at 450m elevation in Fumane, producing an Amarone of particular freshness and aromatic complexity; high altitude preserves acidity while old vines add concentration.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Rustic

Begali's Monte Ca' Bianca is a traditional-school Amarone from very old Corvina vines; the deep mineral iron note and high acidity set it apart, making it one of the most distinctive and food-friendly examples in the Classico zone.

Dry · Full-bodied · High tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Bold

Fratta is Maculan's Bordeaux-inspired flagship red, one of northeastern Italy's landmark wines. A Cabernet-Merlot blend aged 18 months in new French oak, it rivals top Veneto reds in complexity and ageing potential. Fausto Maculan was among the first producers in the Veneto to vinify Bordeaux varieties at serious quality levels.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Bold

From the single Torbe hillside vineyard in the Negrar valley, Campolongo di Torbe is characterised by spicy, tobacco-inflected dried fruit with earthier notes than Masi's more opulent Mazzano bottling.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Bold

Masi's entry-level Classico Amarone is the house's most widely distributed wine and among the most accessible classic-zone bottlings, balancing dried-cherry concentration with a restrained herbaceous character and good structure.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Bold

Mazzano is Masi's most powerful and concentrated single-vineyard Amarone, from the high-altitude Mazzano hill in the S. Ambrogio zone. More opulent and riper than Campolongo, with a chocolatey, rich palate and remarkable ageing potential.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Vaio Armaron is the prestige Amarone from the historic Serego Alighieri estate, owned by descendants of Dante Alighieri, managed in partnership with Masi; the wine reflects the S. Ambrogio di Valpolicella hill terroir with a refined tobacco-cedar complexity and long cellaring potential.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Bold · Rustic

Masi's Toar is a 30% Oseleta-dominant Veronese IGT that deliberately showcases the rarely-used indigenous variety; partial drying of the Oseleta component adds concentration and the grape's characteristic dark spice and iron mineral character.

Sweet · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Elegant

Miele (honey) is Monte Tondo's Recioto di Soave DOCG, a rare sweet wine from appassimento-dried Garganega grapes. Recioto di Soave predates Soave's dry style and is considered the original historic wine of the Soave hills. Monte Tondo's version captures honey, dried apricot and candied citrus balanced by the grape's naturally high acidity.

Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Monte Tondo's signature Soave Superiore DOCG from the Casette Foscarin single-vineyard site on high-elevation basalt terraces east of the Classico zone. Extended lees contact adds texture while preserving the natural mineral character of volcanic Garganega.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Bold

The Nicolis family's Amarone from the Villa Girardi estate in San Pietro in Cariano reflects a traditional, large-cask aged style with tobacco-leather character and solid structure; consistent quality across multiple vintages.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Bold

Ambrosan is the single-parcel selection from Nicolis's oldest vines on the Villa Girardi estate, given an extra year in large Slavonian casks compared to the estate Amarone; a more concentrated and austere expression of tobacco-cedar style with excellent ageing potential.

Sweet · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Romantic · Elegant

Pieropan's Recioto di Soave from the Le Colombare parcel is the most prestigious expression of the ancient sweet white wine tradition of the Soave zone; dried Garganega produces extraordinary apricot-honey concentration kept fresh by the varietal's trademark high acidity.

Sweet · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Romantic · Contemplative

I Capitelli is Anselmi's late-harvest sweet Garganega, made from overripe and botrytised bunches from the Capitel Croce and Capitel Foscarino hills; rich, honeyed and apricot-dominated but lifted by the grape's natural acidity that keeps it from cloying.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Elegant

Santa Sofia's Amarone is a traditional-style Classico from the historic Pedemonte estate, emphasising tobacco-leather complexity and long cellarability; the 16th-century villa setting adds heritage gravitas to a consistently well-made Amarone.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

The flagship of the Montello DOCG, one of northeastern Italy's most serious Bordeaux-blend reds. Serafini and Vidotto pioneered quality Bordeaux-variety production on the Montello hills in the 1980s when the zone was considered secondary. Il Rosso dell'Abazia has become the reference point for the designation.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Elegant

Speri's estate Amarone Classico reflects the six-generation family's traditional approach with large-cask ageing, producing a fresh, floral, tobacco-inflected Amarone that remains one of the most consistent classic-zone expressions.

Sweet · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Romantic · Contemplative

Amedeo is Suavia's Recioto di Soave DOCG from the ancient Monte Carbonare vineyard; the sweet dried-Garganega wine balances luscious apricot-honey sweetness with the grape's natural high acidity, keeping the finish fresh and complex.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Capitel Monte Olmi is Tedeschi's single-vineyard prestige Amarone, from the Monte Olmi hill above San Pietro in Cariano, with exceptional concentration and finesse, reflecting one of the oldest family estates in Valpolicella.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Rustic

La Fabriseria (old Venetian dialect for the forge) is Tedeschi's second single-vineyard Amarone from a plot on the Monte Olmi hillside; greater tobacco-iron concentration than the Capitel Monte Olmi, with a more austere, mineral-forward character.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Bold · Rustic

The 20% Oseleta in Campo dei Gigli adds a peppery, dark-spice dimension to the Corvina-Corvinone dried fruit base; from the Mezzane valley outside the Classico zone, the wine shows an earthier, more structured style than comparable Classico Amarone.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Bold

Tommasi's estate Amarone Classico represents the fourth-generation family's traditional approach: a high proportion of Corvinone adds floral lift to the dried-cherry concentration while three years in large casks develops structure.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Bold

Ca' Florian is Tommasi's single-vineyard flagship Amarone from the old Ca' Florian hillside in the Classico zone, showing dense, chocolatey concentration with elegant tannin structure and long mineral finish.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Funky

Valentina Cubi's certified organic Amarone from the Fumane hillsides shows a distinctly earthy, mineral character from organic viticulture; the Oseleta addition contributes pepper spice and the high acidity reflects the altitude of the Fumane Classico zone.

Sweet · Full-bodied · High acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

The defining wine of the Colli Euganei Fior d'Arancio DOCG, Italy's most aromatic dessert wine appellation. Moscato Giallo grapes are dried (passito) on bamboo racks in the volcanic Euganean Hills; the intensely floral and orange-scented result is unlike any other Italian sweet wine.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Rustic

Campo Morar (meadow of mulberries) is Viviani's single-vineyard Amarone from the highest plots on the Mazzano ridge in Negrar, at over 400 metres elevation; the altitude confers remarkable freshness and acidity to the dried-fruit concentration, producing a wine of particular precision and longevity.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Bold · Rustic

Zenato's Classico Amarone incorporates 20% Oseleta adding firm pepper tannin and dark fruit spice to the Corvina-led blend; aged in a combination of large Slavonian and small French oak that bridges traditional and modern styles.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

The Riserva Sergio Zenato is the estate's memorial bottling to its founder, made only in exceptional vintages and aged five years in oak; the highest Oseleta proportion and extended ageing produce Zenato's most structured and concentrated wine, with extraordinary longevity.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Bold · Elegant

Zyme's Kairos is a modern interpretation of Classico Amarone; former Quintarelli cellarmaster Celestino Gaspari applies small French oak ageing to produce a polished, concentrated expression that bridges traditional intensity with contemporary oak integration.