Recently, a friend told me that the best red wine in Italy is the Amarone of Verona.

Personally, I am convinced that in food and wine there is no concept of “the most...”.

But the statement intrigued me and I wanted to see for myself how plausible it was. Accordingly, off I went to the Roccolo Grassi Estate in Mezzane di Sotto.

Competent and courteous, owner Marco Sartori first explained to me the reason for the wine’s name produced with Recioto della Valpolicella grapes. In the 1950s, a cellarman - during the tasting of a lovable Recioto - said: “This wine has nothing sweet, instead it has an Amarone (that means very bitter) taste.”

Another characteristic: Valpolicella is an area with purely calcareous soils; on the Roccolo Grassi Estate there is instead a portion of vineyard in a volcanic soil zone which is ideal for this grape.

The wine requires a very careful preparation, from harvest to aging. Traditionally Amarone is not marketed before it has aged for at least five years.

Quintessential pairings are braised game and aged cheeses (that is ones not less than 36-48 months old, such as Parmigiano Reggiano and Bettelmatt).

After the tasting in the cellar, my conviction that there is no “the most...” was put to the test, vacillating more than a little!

Mariagrazia Bassan
Dame de la Chaîne

Azienda Agricola Roccolo Grassi
via San Giovanni di Dio 47
37030 Mezzane di Sotto

Phone +39 045 888 0089
Website: www.roccolograssi.it