Amarone Della Valpolicella 2017 (10 Charming Bottles, Prices)

Amarone della Valpolicella is a dry red wine produced in Veneto, Italy. They’re usually a blend of Corvina, Corvinone, and other local grape varieties. 

Although 2017 was a challenging year for Amarone, most bottles are incredibly delicious with an intense, nutty dried-fruit character. In this article, we’ll discover the 2017 growing conditions, the 10 best Amarone Della Valpolicella 2017 bottles,other interesting facts about Amarone Della Valpolicella and investment opportunities.

Was 2017 A Good Year For Amarone?

For most wineries in Veneto, 2017 was an incredibly challenging year. 

In April, there was frost on some grapevines, and in the months between April and September, there were consistent hail storms, causing some vine damage and lower yields for some vineyards.

The region also experienced a very long, hot, dry summer, which negatively affected the flavor and acidity levels of some grapes. That’s why some Amarone wines from this vintage are slightly unbalanced and unrefined.

The 10 Best Amarone Della Valpolicella 2017 Bottles

Here are 10 Amarone Della Valpolicella 2017 bottles that every wine lover should try out:

• 2017 Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG
• 2017 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG 
• 2017 Speri Vigneto Monte Sant'Urbano
• 2017 Villa Annaberta Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
• 2017 Torre d'Orti Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 
• 2017 Zonin Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 
• 2017 Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG 
• 2017 Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG 
• 2017 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG
• 2017 Speri Vigneto Monte Sant'Urbano 

1. 2017 Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG ($450)

Produced with grapes from the legendary Giuseppe Quintarelli vineyards, this 2017 Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone offers rich tobacco and black cherry aromas, powerful dried fig flavors and vanilla undernotes. 

2. 2017 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG ($29)

This dry red wine goes through a 45-day maceration process and is aged for about 25 months in oak barrels. The resulting Amarone has 15% alcohol content and generous aromas of ripe cherries and hints of vanilla. The palate offers dark fruit and sour cherry flavors with spice notes.

3. 2017 Speri Vigneto Monte Sant'Urbano ($48)

This Molinara, Corvina, and Rondinella blend is deep purple in color and offers blueberry and jam aromas. The palate is equally enticing with sour cherry flavors laced in silky tannins. 

4. 2017 Villa Annaberta Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG ($59)

This 2017 vintage wine has delicious ripe fruit aromas and dark chocolate notes. The palate has a lingering fruity finish accompanied by chocolate notes. 

5. 2017 Torre d'Orti Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG ($39)

This classic Amarone della Valpolicella blend has powerful red currant aromas and a velvety palate that bursts open with balanced tannins, lively acidity, and prune sweetness. 

6. 2017 Zonin Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG ($28)

Aged for 36 months in large Slavonian oak barrels, this fruity Zonin Amarone has red cherry and plum aromas and hints of elegant sweetness.

7. 2017 Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG ($37)

This Italian wine offers rich, ripe fruit aromas and hints of cocoa. The palate exudes elegance and is accompanied by delicious plum and dark chocolate flavors and lacy black cherry notes. 

8. 2017 Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG ($68)

Dark ruby in color, this mesmerizing Amarone bursts open with fig, cocoa, and blueberry aromas. The palate’s silky tannins and powerful flavors make this an excellent wine for a classy dinner. 

9. 2017 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG ($39)

The 2017 Zenato Amarone offers pronounced dried fruit aromas and stewed black currant notes. You’ll notice velvety oak and dark chocolate flavors on the palate and a long finish with spice notes.

10. 2017 Speri Vigneto Monte Sant'Urbano ($49)

This Italian wine has oaky tobacco, hazelnut aromas, and a delicious palate filled with sweet red fruit notes. This wine pairs excellently with red meat dishes and aged cheese snacks. 

Other Interesting Facts About Amarone Della Valpolicella Wines

Here are a few other fascinating facts about Amarone Della Valpolicella wines:

What is the history behind Amarone Della Valpolicella wines?

Amarone Della Valpolicella wines were actually created by mistake. 

While the winemakers produced a sweet red wine called Valpolicella (Recioto), they accidentally let the wine ferment for too long, transforming all the residual sugar into alcohol. 

The resulting wines were more tannic and bitter than the Recioto. This new wine style was further  refined in 1936, and the first bottle of Amarone Della Valpolicella was produced in 1938. 

How is Amarone Della Valpolicella made?

Here are the stages in the Amarone Della Valpolicella winemaking process:

• Harvest: The harvested grapes are laid on mats to dry (a process known as the Appassimento technique.) During this time, the grapes lose about 30% of their water content, resulting in dried grapes full of flavor. 
• Fermentation: The dried grapes are slowly pressed and fermented, creating a wine with concentrated colors, aromas, and structure. After fermentation, the wine is placed into stainless steel tanks for 4-6 months, where the malolactic fermentation is completed.
• Aging: The wine is then aged in barriques (oak barrels) for a minimum of 2 years.

The time-consuming Appassimento technique is one of the reasons why Amarone Della Valpolicella wines are so rare and expensive. 

What grape varieties are used in Amarone Della Valpolicella wines?

Besides the Corvinone and Corvina grapes, winemakers can also add small amounts of Rondinella, Dindarella, Molinara, and Oseleta. 

What are some popular Amarone Della Valpolicella food pairings?

Amarone wines’ delicious dark fruit flavor and aroma pair beautifully with red meat dishes, especially grilled steaks, stews, venison, and meat-based pot roasts.

Other excellent Amarone food pairing recommendations include aged cheese, seafood stew, grilled vegetables, and pepperoni pizza.

Should You Invest In Amarone Della Valpolicella 2017 Bottles?

If you’re looking to invest in fine wines, it’s a good idea to partner with a reliable wine investment company like Vinovest. With their AI-based platform, you can buy, store, and even sell your precious wines with ease.

Amarone wines have fantastic aging potential and can be stored in your wine cellar for up to 15 years. Vintage Amarones can be enjoyed even up to 30–50 years after bottling!

Additionally, Amarone Della Valpolicella 2017 bottles have good price appreciation. For example, the 2017 Villa Annaberta Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG price increased by 145%, from $24 in 2020 to $59 in 2021.

Not to mention, most Amarone Della Valpolicella 2017 bottles have also received great critical acclaim:

• The powerful Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2017 received an excellent 93 score from the Wine Spectator.
• The Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2017 also received a score of 93 from James Suckling for its bold palate, clean acidity, and smooth tannins. 

Sip On A Delicious Glass Of Amarone Della Valpolicella 2017 Now

Amarone della Valpolicella is one of the most sought-after Italian reds in the wine world. 

The 2017 vintage's intense aromas and rich flavors make it an excellent wine for a classy dinner with family and friends. 

However, it can be challenging to get your hands on a bottle of Amarone Della Valpolicella 2017 since these wines are incredibly scarce. 

Fortunately, you can easily buy this 2017 vintage and other fine wines from a trusted online wine investment platform like Vinovest.