1997 Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

Giuseppe Quintarelli was a trailblazer in the Veneto region of Italy, where until his death in 2012 he led one of Italy’s most respected wine estates. Quintarelli grew up on the estate that his father founded in the 1920s, and by the 1950s Giuseppe was cutting grape yields and taking other labor intensive steps to improve the quality of the estate’s wines. His attention to quality paid off, and by the 1970s his Valpolicellas and other wines had attained cult status. In the 1980s his Amarones and Reciotos were some of Italy’s most sought after wines. Today the 30-acre estate in Negrar is run by his children and the estate is still winning awards. Gambero Rosso, Italy’s leading wine journal, has awarded the estate 3 Bicchieri, its highest rating, numerous times. Gambero Rosso notes that “distinctive character and complexity…are the hallmarks of all Quintarelli products.”

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.