Valpolicella Wines

Hailing from the rolling hills of the Valpolicella region, Valpolicella wines are produced in a variety of styles from the indigenous Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Molinara grapes. They range from vibrant and easy-drinking reds through to the seriously sweet Recioto dessert wine.

How Valpolicella Is Made

Standard Valpolicella wines are made from Corvina and Rondinella with some Molinara and Corvinone often included in the blend. They tend to be fairly light and elegant with attractive red cherry notes and plenty of freshness. Valpolicella Ripasso wines are the next step up, and are fermented on the grape skins already used to make Amarone. This helps to add plenty of character,complexity, and rich dried fruit notes to the finished wine. There are also the sweet Valpolicella Recioto and Valpolicella Superiore which are made from grapes that have been left to dry out over the winter.

Valpolicella Food Pairings

The sheer variety of Valpolicella wines makes them very versatile when it comes to food pairings. Standard Valpolicella works well with things like charcuterie, hard cheeses, and tomato-based pasta dishes, while Ripasso wines have greater depth for richer dishes like braised beef, ribs or roast pork. Sweet Recioto wines are great to enjoy instead of a dessert or alongside desserts featuring chocolate, dried fruits, or dark berries.