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Amarone wine is a rich, delicious, red wine that pairs well with braised meats, stews, strong cheeses, and dark chocolate. This dry, Italian wine is fantastic enough that I can enjoy a glass or two of this by itself!
In fact, this week, I had a bottle of Amorne della Valpolicello by Zenato with dinner.
I came across this particular bottle at a small family owned Italian restaurant in Rockport, Texas when Buddy and I were on a fun trip with some dear friends. We saw this on the menu, and it was such a hit that I had to get some for home.
Zenato’s amarone wine has flavors of cherry liqueur, dried fig, and plum. We really enjoyed it with our spaghetti this week, but next time, I’d love to pair it with bolognese.
About Amarone Wine
Amarone wine is a dry Italian red that is made from partially dried Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella grapes. If a bottle says “Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG,” it means that it is guaranteed that it was produced in the province of Verona.
More fruit goes into each bottle than your typical bottle of wine. The amarone grapes are harvested later in the season for maximum ripeness. The fruit is then dried for 4 months before it is pressed and fermented for 45 days. This process gives amarone wine a complex flavor.
The history of how Amarone actually came about is a little muddy, and there are a few different stories out there.
Some say Amarone was made by accident. Others say it was an intentional experiment.
Rumor has it, Amarone started around 1938. However, the first bottles weren’t sold until around 1953 and didn’t gain popularity until the 1990s. Since then, it has continuously grown in demand.
Drinking Amarone Wine
Amarone is a little higher in alcohol. This comes from the amount of fruit and the long fermentation process of aging.
You need to decant it for approximately two hours and overnight if older than 10 years to bring out all the complex flavors. Be sure to serve it at 64F. Riedel has some great crystal decanters for wine. I couldn’t find the exact one I have, but Amazon has a wide variety of styles to choose from.
When purchasing a bottle of Amarone, expect it to start at around $50 and up. Buy Wines Online has a 2017 bottle of Zenato’s Amarone della Valpolicella going for $59.95.
