Technically, there is only one way to make Amarone wine:
- pick grapes.
- dry grapes until there is 40% less liquid (called appassimento and can take as long as 120 days)
- slowly press dried grapes.
- slowly ferment grapes into wine for 35–50 days (this is a long time for wine!)
What grape is used for Amarone?
Amarone della Valpolicella, or Amarone, is a rich red wine made from partially dried Corvina and Rondinella grapes, produced throughout the vineyards of Valpolicella (and its subregion Valpantena), a 95-square mile province of Verona.
What blend is Amarone?
Today, the Amarone is a blend of Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara, and other varieties, and it is aged in a mixture of large new Slavonian oak barrels of 12 and 25 hectoliters, American oak barriques, and French oak tonneaux, both used and new.
Is Amarone made from dried grapes?
Amarone is produced throughout the Valpolicella denomination (including the sub-zones of Classico and Valpantena) from grapes dried until at least 1 December following the vintage and fermented out to a minimum of 14% alcohol.
What is special about Amarone wine?
Amarone wines are rich, vibrant, full-bodied and powerful. This is thanks to their protracted drying, fermenting and ageing process. This process gives the wine a more ‘concentrated’ taste.
What is the difference between Ripasso and Amarone?
First of all, because they’re not made with fresh grapes like all the other wines. Amarone is produced with grapes dried for 3 months, Valpolicella Ripasso is made with 2 fermentations, the first one with fresh grapes and the second one in contact with Amarone skins.
What is the difference between Amarone and Valpolicella?
While Valpolicella is a youthful dry red wine produced without ageing, Amarone is made by fermenting dried grapes and ageing them for two years. Ripasso calls for re-fermentation with added Amarone grape skins and then aging for one year.
Should you decant Amarone?
Amarone is a structured red wine aged for a long time in French oak barrels. It is always advisable to decant it especially if it is from an important year in order to separate any residues and open it to the maximum of its aromantic expression.
What wine is similar to Amarone?
Beyond Amarone, for those looking for a similar concentration of flavor, intensity of aroma and full-bodied character, I’d recommend a good Zinfandel from Rockpile, try Mauritson ($35) or Bruliam ($35).