Chocolate in Veneto

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.

Sweet · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Romantic · Contemplative

Dal Forno's sweet Recioto applies the same barrique-and-concentration philosophy: deep, almost port-like sweetness balanced by the estate's signature tannin structure.

Sweet · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Romantic

The sweet passito counterpart to Quintarelli's Amarone: residual sugar balanced by firm tannins and high acidity producing a luscious yet structured dessert red with decades-long ageing potential.

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.

Sweet · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Romantic · Contemplative

Begali's Recioto is made from the same Ca' Bianca old-vine fruit as the Amarone, with the fermentation arrested before dryness; the result is a luscious, chocolate-cherry sweet red with firm tannic structure.

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

Speri's Le Bine de Jago Recioto represents the traditional sweet red wine of Valpolicella before Amarone became dominant; the fermentation-arrested fruit preserves Corvina's characteristic high acidity beneath the luscious chocolate-cherry sweetness.

Sweet · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Romantic · Festive

Tommasi's Recioto Classico is made from the highest-selected Corvina and Corvinone bunches from the family's San Pietro in Cariano vineyards; chocolate-cherry and raisin sweetness balanced by traditional cask structure.