Amarone wine – the unknown beauty

Amarone wine – the unknown beauty

People who are experienced in the matter of wines will always know the usual Italian solutions – Brunello, Barolo and Amarone. However, Amarone is still a pipe dream for many people, because of one reason – it is actually expensive.

That does not take away its appeal though. It bears the reputation of being one of the best and most in-demand wines they produce. Coming from the region of Valpolicella in Veneto, the wine is has a full-body, intense and elegant taste, making it very popular with wine enthusiasts across the world. Here are some interesting facts you might not know about this wine.

It was originally an accident

The first time this wine was made was not an intentional task – in fact it was an accidental invention, which occurred when the Recioto wine was taken too far. The Recioto wine comes from certain grapes that have undergone a careful drying process to make sure the sugars are concentrated effectively.

When making Recioto wines, the process of fermentation (the conversion of sugar to alcohol) is interrupted before the sugar ends, which makes the wine sweet. However, for Amarone (coming from the name amara that means bitter), the stories behind it state the fermentation process continued for too long, resulting in a full body wine with a dry taste and high alcohol content.

The same grapes that produce other wines also produce Amarone

The local Corvina grape found in some regions of Italy, is the main grape that is used to make the wines from Italy, including Amarone. Other grapes can be blended in, including Negrara, Rondinella, Sangiovese, Oseleta, Molinara, Rossignola, and Corvinone.

However, there exists some variations in wine making processes, especially Bardolino and Valpolicella. These grapes will make wines that are perfect for almost all occasions.

The wine goes through strict processes in production

This happens to be among the wines that go through the strict processes of production. For instance, the origin of the grapes and their types are strictly specified, although there are additional rules that apply. One such instance is in the harvesting period – if the farmers begin harvesting the grape early, they will not get the DOCG (the standardization body) registration of approval.

The practice of drying the grapes is old

The process of making wine and drying the grapes is old – in fact, it actually goes back to the Roman Empire. It usually begins when the grapes are spread out to dry on mats (either plastic or bamboo) in a well-aerated room for several months. During this time, the grapes concentrate their flavors and lose their water concentration, making the resulting wine have a characteristic taste.

The style of wine that you want will determine the percentage of water losses. The high alcohol levels of Amarone wine are the by-product of the process, and the dry grapes can improve the flavor of the wine immensely when it is done correctly.

The taste of the wine is among the best

Even though you will see a lot of wines claiming to be the best in their fields, not many can compare to the taste of Amarone. Similar to other high alcohol and bold wines from Italy, it is widely revered for its long lasting nature.

The wine itself has sufficient richness to mature slowly from five to ten years, even though there is no harm in opening it earlier on. Regardless of whether you open it early or later, the taste remains characteristically fruity, combining the flavors of chocolate, cherry, dried figs, liquorice, parmesan and savory, which have a good balance with the alcohol.

Amarone might be expensive, but it is worth trying at least once – and flavors are rich, making for a high quality product.