RedLead grape in 6
Corvina
The lead grape of Valpolicella, Bardolino and Amarone. It has thin skin, high acid and a loose bunch, and gives sour cherry, almond and a bitter edge. On its own as a fresh red it is light and sappy. Dried for months on racks it concentrates into Amarone, where the sugar climbs, the alcohol goes to fifteen or sixteen degrees and the bitterness holds the whole thing together.
Worth knowing
The loose bunch is why the drying works. Air gets between the berries in the fruttaio through the winter, so the grapes raisin instead of rotting. A tight bunched variety put on the same racks would turn to mould.
Where it is allowed7 appellations
Veneto6
- Amarone della ValpolicellaDOCGlead grapeStill hunting
- BardolinoDOClead grape35 to 95 percentStill hunting
- Bardolino SuperioreDOCGlead grapeStill hunting
- Recioto della ValpolicellaDOCGlead grapeStill hunting
- ValpolicellaDOClead grape45 to 95 percentStill hunting
- Valpolicella RipassoDOClead grapeStill hunting