Amarone della Valpolicella 2015 Ca’ Rugate
Amarone wine will usually cost you about HK$ 800 which isn’t cheap in Hong Kong. There’s a practical explanation as to why Amarone is one of Italy’s top red wines.
Verona is a jewel of a city in northeastern Italy, an hour and a half west of Venice by car. The town is home to an immaculate, picture-perfect medieval center, as well as one of the most untouched Roman amphitheaters in the world, where concerts and events are still held, the Arena di Verona.
Heading north and west towards Lake Garda, you’ll encounter the hills of the Valpolicella region. It is the second largest producer of quality (DOC) wines. The Valpolicella area encompasses several neighboring valleys that include 7 different little towns.
Valpolicella is dedicated to the production of four grape varieties: Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Molinara. However, as a result of when the grapes are picked and what is done after, the wines can be startlingly different in the bottle.
The 5 Levels of Valpolicella Amarone Wine
- Tier 1: Valpolicella Classico
- Tier 2: Valpolicella Superiore
- Tier 3: Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso
- Tier 4: Amarone della Valpolicella
- Tier 5: Recioto della Valpolicella
After harvesting the grapes for ‘Tier 1’ Valpolicella Classico, they are immediately crushed and fermented. This is a light, high acid red wine; it generally sees no oak aging and provides a perfect match for the traditional local appetizers. I promise – in Verona, even horse tartar is pretty amazing when accompanied by delicious Valpolicella.
By contrast, the fruit destined to become Amarone takes quite a different journey before reaching the bottle. He is, after all, the family Patriarch – most wineries will select their older, more mature vines for this wine. Grapes are picked a bit later to ensure ripeness – usually in mid-October. Then, they are left all winter to dry into raisins.
During the roughly 120 days that this occurs, the grapes will lose 30-40% of their weight. The result is intense concentration and a very high sugar content, which in turn translates into 15% or higher alcohol levels. It also demands a premium price. You can do the math yourself: a hell of a lot more fruit goes into a bottle of Amarone than a bottle of Valpolicella. The drying process demands an investment of time and space on behalf of the winery.
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