2004 Zyme Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

Zymè is the Greek word for “yeast,” and when Celestino Gaspari founded his estate in 1999 he chose Zymè as his estate’s name to suggest the processes involved with winemaking and the concept of natural agriculture. Gaspari worked for the legendary Giuseppe Qunitarelli for years before starting his own 75-acre estate near Verona. Along the way he married Quintarelli’s daughter, Mariarosa, who runs Zymè with him. Zymè produces a portfolio of wines including Spumante, Cabernet Sauvignon and red and white blends from indigenous grapes. But he is best known for his Valpolicella and Amarone. Wine Advocate has often awarded the wines scores in the 90s, and Gambero Rosso has given several vintages of Zymè Amarone 3 Glasses, the highest rating. Wine Advocate wrote that Gaspari’s wines “are radically different from basically all the other wines to be found in Valpolicella...Zymè enjoys a cult following and for good reason.”

Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, usually called simply Amarone, was awarded its prestigious DOCG appellation status in 2009. Though lush, high alcohol content red wines have been made in the Veneto since the ancient Greeks settled there, the popularity of Amarone over the last few decades has resulted in international demand for the wine. Amarone is typically made from 45% to 95% Corvina, blended with Rondinella and other indigenous grapes. The blend is essentially the same as for Valpolicella, but Amarone is made from dried grapes, which gives it a rich, viscous quality and an alcohol content between 14% and 20%. Though Amarone is a dry wine, there is a sweet version called Recioto della Valpolicella. The recioto style wines are included in the DOCG, and the word “ripasso” on label usually indicates the sweeter style.