An evening dedicated to Valpolicella, from young red to sweet wine: four labels from four wineries covering the whole range of the appellation, from Valpolicella Classico to Ripasso, Amarone and Recioto. Presented by sommelier Francesco Mastrosimone, with boards of cured meats, bread and olives in the Talent Kitchen kitchen in Sirmione.

The four wines

• Monte dall'Ora – “Saseti” 2022, Valpolicella Classico
• Secondo Marco – Valpolicella Ripasso Classico
• Ilatium Morini – “Leòn” 2018, Amarone della Valpolicella
• Villa Crine – Recioto della Valpolicella Classico

The valley of many cellars

We started from the name: Val polis cellae, the “valley of many cellars” as far back as Roman times. On the map of the Valpolicella Wine Road we saw where the wines come from, from Sant'Ambrogio and Negrar to the valleys east of Verona, and how the same grapes – Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella – can make very different wines.

From fresh grapes to dried grapes

Valpolicella Classico is the freshest, easiest red. Ripasso is “re-passed” over the Amarone pomace and gains more body. Amarone and Recioto are made from grapes dried for months: the first dry and powerful, the second sweet. Ilatium Morini's Leòn, for example, comes from Mezzane di Sotto, a winery founded in 1992, with 70% Corvina and Corvinone, 20% Rondinella and 10% Croatina and Oseleta.

How it went

Everyone at one long table, with glasses and a tasting sheet to note wine, winery, score and comments. For each wine Francesco told the story of the winery and the land with slides on screen, then came tasting and comparison. At the end, a group photo with the certificate of attendance.

The pairing

Boards of cured meats – mortadella, prosciutto crudo, salami – with bread, olives and savoury bites, chosen to go with the reds of the evening.

Would you like a tasting like this?

We organise Valpolicella, Lugana, Franciacorta and Lake Garda wine tastings for private groups, companies and parties too: see our wine tastings in Sirmione or write to us.