The Italy Wine Project

Regions / Veneto

DOCStill huntingEasy

Valpolicella DOC

IL PROGETTODOCVALPOLICELLAAAIT16439137Denominazione di Origine Controllata

No strip issued. I'm still hunting a bottle.

The fresh, unraisined red of the Verona hills, and the wine that Amarone's fame has pushed into the shadows. Basic Valpolicella is pale ruby, light bodied and tart, with sour cherry, red plum, almond and a peppery snap, made for chilling and drinking with cured meats; Superiore, with a year of age and a bit more alcohol, gets deeper and more savory, and from Quintarelli or Speri it's a serious wine. A wave of producers (Monte dei Ragni, Zýmē, Ca' La Bionda) now treat straight Valpolicella as the honest expression of Corvina. Cheap, useful and often better than the Ripasso next to it.

Still hunting

I'm still looking for a bottle of this.

If you make Valpolicella, import it, or know who does, the form takes two minutes and I reply to every one.

Can you help me get one?

Bottles I'm chasing

  • Allegrini

    Valpolicella Classico

    Bright, unoaked, sour cherry and almond; the standard by which everyday Valpolicella is judged. Winebow imports.

    $16 to $20Wine-Searcher
  • Speri

    Valpolicella Classico Superiore Sant'Urbano

    Single-vineyard Superiore with a portion of dried grapes, black cherry, tobacco and real structure; organic.

    $30 to $38Wine-Searcher
  • Quintarelli

    Valpolicella Classico Superiore

    The cult producer's 'basic' wine, released with seven years of age, dried cherry, leather and spice; the serious bottle.

    $90 to $120Wine-Searcher