Valpolicella Wine From Italy: 5 Styles, 10 Delicious Wines, Taste, Terroir

Located in the Veneto region, the Valpolicella region is one of the most popular wine zones of Italy, second only to Chianti.

From dry Amarone to younger wines like Ripasso (made from Amarone pomace), you have an exciting range of Valpolicella Red Wines to choose from!

Discover everything about Valpolicella wine - from the various wine styles, to the best Valpolicella wine to buy in 2022, how they’re made, the terroir, grapes used, and much more!

The Valpolicella Wine Region and It’s Terroir

The Valpolicella region is often called the ‘valley of many cellars’ thanks to the number of ancient wine cellars in the area.

The Valpolicella wine region extends from Soave in the east to Bardolino in the west of the Veneto region. Lake Garda in the west and the Adriatic Sea on the Southeast bank influence the region’s cool climate.

The viticulture of the Valpolicella region is governed by this cool continental climate and the calcareous, limestone-rich clayey soil.

Some of the most beautiful vineyard plots of the Valpolicella area are Valpolicella Classica, sant’ambrogio di Valpolicella, and Soave - all known for their flavorful wines. 

Characteristics of Valpolicella wine

Often compared to Beaujolais, a normal Valpolicella wine packs red fruit flavors and fresh acidity. 

While full-bodied Amarone and Recioto wines have an alcohol level of 15-16%, the lighter Classico Valpolicella wines have moderate alcohol levels of around 11%.    

The 5 Valpolicella Wine Styles

The first thing that comes to your mind when you hear ‘Valpolicella’ may be Amarone, but there is a whole range of red wines that come from this region - full and light-bodied red wine, sweet dessert wine, and even sparkling spumante.

Valpolicella DOC wine comes in five major styles, thanks to the rich viticultural history and continuous improvements in the winemaking process.

1. Valpolicella Classico

Valpolicella Classico is a DOC wine classified as ‘table wine’. It is the most popular wine style in the region. A Valpolicella DOC wine is much more affordable than other Italian wines and costs less than $20 for a bottle. 

These novello style wines (wines made to be drunk young) have a classic Beaujolais Nouveau texture - light, fresh and fruity.

Pair them with simple dishes - vegan or meat, especially on a warm summer evening. 

2. Valpolicella Superiore

Valpolicella Superiore wine is known for its rich flavors and darker colors. With a minimum of 12% ABV, Valpolicella Superiore wines are great to be consumed with a dish like seafood stew or rare steak. 

These wines are aged in wood for at least a year to develop their rich flavors.

3. Amarone della Valpolicella

The Amarone Della Valpolicella wine is a DOCG wine. The winemakers use traditional methods to craft this fine Italian wine.

A unique dry wine with an illusion of sweetness, these wines are made from indigenous grape varieties that have been dried for 4-5 months. These dried grapes have concentrated sugar. During fermentation, most of the sugar is converted to alcohol, and the wine becomes dry without losing the sweet aroma. 

4. Recioto della Valpolicella

Made using the same winemaking process, Recioto wine is the sweeter twin of the Amarone wine. These dessert wines are made from the same grape varieties as Amarone - Corvina, Molinara, Rondinella, and Croatina. 

The only difference is that the winemaker stops the fermentation before all the sugar ferments. Therefore the wine is left with residual sugar, and the resulting wine is sweet.

5. Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso

Given a DOC status in 2009, the Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso is younger than the other Valpolicella wine styles. 

Ripasso is not a regular Valpolicella DOC wine. Here’s why.

It was developed to give Classico wines the richness of Amarone wine. To make the Classico wine richer and more complex, the winemaker macerates it with Amarone pomace (grape skins and solids.) 

10 Best Valpolicella Wines to Buy in 2022 (Including Tasting Notes, Prices)

Here are the finest Valpolicella wine bottles to get hold of now:

1. 2011 Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Selezione DOCG ($325)
2. 1965 Bertani Recioto Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Veneto ($750)
3. 2011 Giuseppe Quintarelli Valpolicella Classico Superiore ($92)
4. 2004 Dal Forno Romano Vigneto di Monte Lodoletta, Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG ($445)
5. 2007 Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore ($22)
6. 2013 Marion Valpolicella Superiore ($30)
7. 2003 Tommaso Bussola TB, Recioto Della Valpolicella Classico DOCG ($175)
8. 2015 Bolla Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore ($15)
9. 2013 Monte dei Ragni Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore ($65)
10. 2007 Bertani Villa Arvedi, Amarone della Valpolicella Valpantena DOCG ($145)

1. 2011 Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Selezione DOCG ($325)

A rich and intense red wine, it is made from the classic Valpolicella blend of Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella grapes with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, and Sangiovese.

The nose is dominated by an intense aroma of black cherry, spices, and oak. The palate is rich, full-bodied, and has perfectly balanced tannin levels. 

2. 1965 Bertani Recioto Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Veneto ($750)

The 1965 sweet wine is a carefully crafted masterpiece. Wine tasting reveals a fully developed bold wine with a lasting finish. This Italian wine gives off a strong aroma of dried fruits like cherries and plums with tobacco, and leather. 

The fruit flavor of dark plum dominates the palate, but you can notice a hint of vanilla in the end. 

3. 2011 Giuseppe Quintarelli Valpolicella Classico Superiore ($92)

This stunning wine has blackberry, raspberry, and dried fruit notes with hints of vanilla and spice. It is full-bodied with silky tannins and a long finish.

It pairs well with beef, pasta, and poultry.

4. 2004 Dal Forno Romano Vigneto di Monte Lodoletta, Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG ($445)

The 2004 Dal Forno Romano Vigneto di Monte Lodoletta is a rich and warm dessert wine from Recioto Della Valpolicella appellation. It has subtle notes of tar, raspberry, and dark chocolate. A full-bodied wine with perfectly balanced tannins, this red wine is a perfect pair for chocolate desserts on a special occasion. 

5. 2007 Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore ($22) 

This bright ruby-hued wine has notes of red currant, cherry, and spices. It has a well-rounded body, smooth acidity, and aroma notes of tobacco.

This wine pairs well with beef, veal, and game meat.

6. 2013 Marion Valpolicella Superiore ($30)

This silky complex wine has an aromatic nose of thyme, blackberries, and fennel. It pairs well with Italian dishes like pasta and meatballs.

7. 2003 Tommaso Bussola TB, Recioto Della Valpolicella Classico DOCG ($175)

This Valpolicella region Italian wine packs deep dried fruit flavors of cherries, mocha, and aromatic herbs. The acidity of the wine gives it a tangy vibrancy. 

Pair this wine with sweet desserts to enhance its flavor. 

8. 2015 Bolla Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore ($15)

This is a well-balanced, fruity wine with notes of dark berries and plums. It is a dark ruby ​​red in color and is made of 70% Corvina and Corvinone, and 30% Rondinella.

9. 2013 Monte dei Ragni Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore ($65)

This bold red wine is made in the classic Ripasso Della Valpolicella wine style where the Amarone pomace is allowed to ferment with a Classico wine. It has a lower amount of residual sugar than a Recioto wine.

This Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore wine has dominant notes of leather, tar, and pepper with slight notes of vanilla and plum. It is best paired with beef, veal and gamey meats. 

Other Ripasso style wines to try are Monte dei Ragni and L’Arco Valpolicella.

10. 2007 Bertani Villa Arvedi, Amarone della Valpolicella Valpantena DOCG ($145)

The 2007 Bertani Villa Arvedi is a rich and intense Veronese wine made from the basic Valpolicella blend. A dark red wine with purple hues, it has a rich aroma of cherry, spice, and mint. On the palate, it has well-balanced tannins and a fruity flavor of black currant and ripe cherry. 

Some other Veronese wines you could try are Fratelli Vogadori, Tommasi and Marano.

Food Pairings with Valpolicella Wines

Here are some food suggestions to go with these Italian wines. 

Pair the regular Valpolicella Classico wine with common dinner dishes like pasta, pizza, light meat dishes and sauteed vegetables. 

While sweet wines like Recioto are best paired with dark chocolate desserts, dry Amarone wines go best with braised meat, rare steak, and aged cheese. 

Ripasso wine goes with a wide range of dishes - from Risotto and pasta to barbecued meat dishes like steak and sausages.

Does Valpolicella Wine Age Well?

When it comes to Valpolicella, aging depends on the wine type. 

Valpolicella wines made from partially-dried grapes (for example, Amarone and Recioto) have good aging potential. They are aged for two years in barrels before being released. You can age them for at least 10 more years in the bottle. 

An Amarone or Recioto from a prestigious Valpolicella zone winery like Bertani can age up to 20 years. 

As for table wines like Classico and Ripasso Della Valpolicella, it is best to drink them young. 

Now the question is: how do you buy Valpolicella and other wines without having to go through the hassle of finding one at the right prices, and not worrying about counterfeit bottles?

Your best bet would be to entrust a wine investment company like Vinovestand buy authenticated Valpolicella wines or any other investment-grade wines.

Valpolicella Grape Varieties

Think Valpolicella wines, and Corvina and Corvinone grapes are probably what’ll come to your mind! But the region has several other grape varieties that give flavor to a standard Valpolicella wine. 

1. Corvina

Corvina is a red wine grape that produces light wines. The thick grape skins give the wine low tannin levels. Although the grape lacks color, the wine is usually bright-red. It is also commonly known as Corvina Veronese and Cruina.

Corvina grape is known for its sour cherry flavors - the reason it's a key ingredient in Valpolicella wines. It is often blended with other grape varieties like Rondinella because of its high acidity, giving the wine a unique freshness. 

2. Corvinone

Often used as a substitute to the Corvina grape variety, Corvinone is considered a clone of the former grape. It is widely grown in the Veneto region of northeast Italy and hardly ever appears in Veronese wine blends without its parent grape.

The grape skins are thick - perfect for drying - and that’s why it is used in sweeter wines like Recioto and fine dry wines like Amarone. 

3. Rondinella

Another red wine grape grown on the outskirts of the Veneto region, Rondinella is considered the poorer-quality cousin of Corvina. This indigenous grape adds herbal flavors to the wine.

It is hardly ever used to produce varietal wines. 

4. Molinara

Another blending grape from the region, Molinara, is used to add acidity in Valpolicella wines, Bardolino and IGT Veneto wines. 

Molinara grapes are prone to rapid oxidation, which results in a lack of flavor. It is only known for its fresh acidity and not used as a varietal wine grape. 

5. Other grape varieties

There are several other grapes that are used in small quantities to give Valpolicella wines unique flavors,  including Rossignola, Dindarella, Negrara, Trentina, Barbera, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc.

Now let’s also take a look into the rich history of Valpolicella wine.

History of Valpolicella Wine and Winemaking Practices

Valpolicella is much more than the birthplace of the popular Amarone wine. It has a rich viticultural history dating back to the Greeks and boasts distinct winemaking methods that have evolved over the centuries.

Viticulture in the Valpolicella wine region has evolved over the centuries, but the traditional winemaking process of using partially dried grapes still exists. 

The official wine-making regulations forbid the use of any other vine training methods other than Pergola Veronese and Guyot. In this system, the shoots are attached to trellises that are placed horizontally. This helps the vine grow upwards, and hence grape bunches are easily accessible during harvest.

It was not until the 1950s that the Amarone wine style was rediscovered in the region, and it gained popularity in the 1980s and 1990s. 

Today, winemaking in Valpolicella is divided into seven communes -  Pescantina, San Pietro in Cariano, Negrar, Marano di Valpolicella, Fumane, Sant’Ambrogio di Valpolicella and Sant’Anna d’Alfaedo.

There’s a Valpolicella To Suit Every Palate!

From a simple Valpolicella table wine like Classico to a dry, sweet Amarone, there is a Valpolicella wine for all wine lovers! 

And the easiest way to buy, store, and sell them is to use the world-class Vinovest platform. 

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