In the glass
Aroma: dried cherry, tobacco, leather, cedar, dark chocolate, dried herbs
Palate: dried plum, tobacco leaf, cedar, espresso, leather, spice
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.
What it pairs with
-
Braised beef alla Veneziana with polenta
The wine's tobacco-leather richness is the textbook companion for Venetian-style braised beef. -
Prosciutto di San Daniele with melon
The sweet-salt of cured prosciutto and melon resonates with the wine's dried fruit concentration.
How to serve Santa Sofia Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Allow 5 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and pour. Open and pour directly. No decanting required for this style.
- Serve at 12-14°C. Cellar temperature (12-14°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a small dessert-wine glass (3-5oz pour) , the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Braised beef alla Veneziana with polenta, Prosciutto di San Daniele with melon. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Santa Sofia has operated from the historic Villa Santa Sofia in Pedemonte since 1811, but began bottling Amarone commercially in the 1940s under the Begnoni family. The Palladian-attributed loggia of the villa is a landmark in the Classico zone.
- 1811 — Santa Sofia estate established as a winery in historic Villa Santa Sofia
- 1943 — First Santa Sofia Amarone commercial bottling
Facts
- Producer
- Santa Sofia
- Grapes
- Corvina (65%), Rondinella (25%), Corvinone (10%)
- Classification
- Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG
- Oak
- Aged 3 years in large Slavonian oak casks
- ABV
- 15.0%
- Price
- €55-85 at retail
- Drinking window
- 8-25 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1943
Frequently asked about Santa Sofia Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
What does Santa Sofia Amarone della Valpolicella Classico taste like?
On the nose, dried cherry, tobacco, leather, cedar, dark chocolate. On the palate, dried plum, tobacco leaf, cedar, espresso, leather. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. 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.
When should I drink Santa Sofia Amarone della Valpolicella Classico?
Drink 8-25 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Santa Sofia Amarone della Valpolicella Classico?
Braised beef alla Veneziana with polenta is the canonical pairing; Prosciutto di San Daniele with melon is the other strong match. The wine's tobacco-leather richness is the textbook companion for Venetian-style braised beef.
What grapes are in Santa Sofia Amarone della Valpolicella Classico?
The blend is Corvina (65%), Rondinella (25%), Corvinone (10%). The wine is classified as Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG.