Casalforte Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2019

Casalforte Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2019 / Cantine Riondo / Veneto

Red wine from Italy

Cantine Riondo is based in the heart of the Soave region between the famous cities of Verona and Venice. Although it was only founded in 2008 as a wine cooperative, it is now one of the most important wine producers in Veneto. The corporate structure seems complicated, but in reality it is very simple: two thousand winemakers cultivate 6000 hectares of vineyards in the provinces of Verona, Vicenza and Padua, giving the harvested grapes to five wineries for subsequent vinification.

The Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG is a now world-famous red wine made from the grape varieties Corvina, Rondinella, Corvinone and Molinara. Corvina is an autochthonous red grape variety native to the Verona valley, mainly cultivated in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Its clusters are large, rounded and slightly oval in shape and have a deep blue to black color. The Corvina delivers wines with an intense and complex aroma with hints of cherries and blackberries and spicy notes of cloves and cinnamon. The Rondinella grape variety is also a red grape variety that is mainly cultivated in the Veneto region. Rondinella grapes are small and dark blue to black in color. The grapes contain a high level of color pigments, which contributes to the fact that wines made from this variety have a beautiful ruby red colour. The berries are round and have a rather thick skin. Wines made from this grape variety are characterized by fruity aromas, including red berries such as cherries and raspberries. They can also have slightly spicy nuances. They generally have moderate acidity and mild tannins. This gives the wines good structure, making them approachable and easy to drink. The third component of Amarone is the red Corvinone grape variety, which is closely related to the Corvina grape variety. Corvinone grapes tend to be larger than Corvina grapes and are dark blue to black in color. The berries are round and have a rather thick skin. Corvinone wines have an intense aroma, often characterized by dark fruits such as black cherries and plums. They can also feature spicy notes like black pepper and tobacco. The Corvinone grapes have moderate acidity and moderate to high tannins. This gives the wines structure, body and aging potential. The grape variety Molinara is also a red grape variety from northern Italy. The grapes are small to medium-sized, oblong in shape and thin-skinned. Wines made from this grape variety are characterized by fresh, bright aromas reminiscent of red berries such as raspberries and strawberries. They can also have a slightly spicy note. The Molinara grapes tend to have high acidity and low tannins. This gives the wines freshness and liveliness, while the tannins are rather soft and mild.

The grapes for the Casalforte Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG from Cantine Riondo are harvested by hand towards the end of September and processed using the so-called appassimento technique. For this purpose, the grapes are spread out in drying houses (the so-called "fruttai") in the hills of Valpolicella. They then dry in small boxes until spring. In this process, the water evaporates while the acid, sugars and extractives are concentrated. After drying, the grapes are gently pressed to extract the juice. This juice is very concentrated and has a high sugar content. The grape juice is then fermented in stainless steel tanks, with yeasts converting the sugars into alcohol. After fermentation, the Amarone is transferred to large oak barrels, where it is allowed to age and develop over the next 24 months. During this time, the Amarone wine acquires its characteristic aromas and complex structure. After bottling, the Amarone can either be drunk immediately or kept in bottle to allow for additional aging in the bottle.

The result is a deep garnet red wine that has a complex smell of cinnamon, cherry jam, fruit preserved in alcohol and walnut. On the palate, this Amarone is dry and has an aroma of ripe black cherries with notes of vanilla and coffee. Its finale is very long.

At a serving temperature of approximately 18 to 20 degrees Celsius, the Casalforte Amarone della Valpolicella from Cantine Riondo reveals its full splendour. This phenomenal and highly decorated red wine is a true delight, complementing rich pasta dishes as perfectly as it does game and grilled or stewed red meats. It also pairs excellently with mature cheeses. The Amarone proves to be a versatile companion for spicy dishes, whether it's a pasta with rich meat sauce or a herb-marinated lamb leg - its flavour harmonizes wonderfully with such dishes. Not to be forgotten are well-seasoned stews or casseroles, which also offer an excellent accompaniment to the Amarone. This wine particularly shines when paired with dishes containing red meats, be it a tender beef fillet, succulent lamb chops, flavourful game, or a hearty steak. Whether with braised dishes like pot roast or braised game, or as an accompaniment to grilled meat dishes, the Amarone is a true pleasure. Intense cheeses such as Parmesan, Pecorino, or mature Cheddar find an ideal companion in this wine, which accentuates their flavours. An unexpected but extremely delightful combination is dark chocolate. The rich flavours of the wine complement the bitterness of the chocolate in a delicious way. Finally, the Casalforte Amarone della Valpolicella can also be a wonderful solo wine for relaxed moments of enjoyment and contemplative hours.

General properties

• Vintage: 2019
• Ageing: Dry
• Country: Italy
• Region: Veneto
• Volume: 0.75 litres

Detailed properties

• Producer and bottler: Cantine Riondo - Via Cappuccini 6 - Monteforte d'Alpone (VR) - Italia - +39 045 6104346
• Quality Designation: Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG)
• Grape varieties: Corvina, Rondinella, Corvinone and Molinara.
• Manufacturing: After the harvest at the end of September, the grapes for the Amarone are spread out in dry houses in the hills of the Valpolicella. The classic varieties Corvina, Rondinella and Corvinone dry in small boxes until spring. The dried and highly concentrated grapes are then fermented on the mash and aged in large oak barrels for 24 months.
• Sensory characteristics: The Casalforte Amarone della Valpolicella is a full-bodied red wine. The long, slow fermentation gives this wine a complex bouquet of cinnamon, cherry jam and walnut, as well as a palate of ripe black cherry fruits with notes of vanilla and coffee on the finish. Long final.
• Colour: Deep garnet red.
• Alcohol content: 15.0 % Vol.
• Residual sugar: 7.0 g/l
• Acid: 5.6 g/l
• Closure type: Natural cork.
• How to serve: Excellent accompaniment to spicy dishes such as pasta with meat sauces, well-seasoned stews, and casseroles. Harmonious with dishes containing red meat and intense cheeses. Delicious with dark chocolate. Phenomenal contemplation wine.
  
• Recommended serving temperature: Between 18 and 20°C.
• Allergens: Contains sulfites.
• EAN (bottle): 8001968003197
• Scope of supply: 1 bottle of wine 0.75 litres.

Grape varieties

CORVINA

The Corvina grape variety is an autochthonous red grape variety that is mainly cultivated in the Veneto region of northern Italy. It is one of the main grapes used in the production of Amarone wine. The grapes are comparatively large and have a deep blue to black color. The berries are rounded and slightly oval in shape. Corvina grapes produce wines with an intense and complex aroma. Typical aromas include red fruits such as cherries and blackberries and spicy notes of cloves and cinnamon. They have moderate to high acidity and moderate tannins. This gives the wines good structure and allows for some aging potential. The Corvina grapes have a good ability to concentrate aromas and sugars during the drying phase. This makes them ideal for making Amarone wine, known for its intense concentration and complexity.

RONDINELLA

The Rondinella grape variety is a red grape variety that is mainly grown in the Veneto region of northern Italy. It is often used in combination with other grape varieties such as Corvina and Molinara to produce wines such as Amarone, Valpolicella and Bardolino. Rondinella grapes are relatively small and dark blue to black in color. The grapes contain a high level of color pigments, which contributes to the fact that wines made from this variety have a beautiful ruby red colour. The berries are round and have a rather thick skin. Wines made from this grape variety are characterized by fruity aromas, including red berries such as cherries and raspberries. They can also have slightly spicy nuances. They generally have moderate acidity and mild tannins. This gives the wines good structure, making them approachable and easy to drink. The Rondinella is often used in combination with other grape varieties in cuvées to complement the character and complexity of wines such as Amarone and Valpolicella. The variety can also be used alone to create fruity, medium-bodied red wines with soft tannins.

CORVINONE

The Corvinone grape variety is a red grape variety that is mainly grown in the Veneto region of northern Italy. It is closely related to the Corvina grape variety and is often used in combination with other grape varieties such as Corvina and Rondinella to produce wines such as Amarone, Valpolicella and Bardolino. Corvinone grapes are usually larger than Corvina grapes and dark blue to black in color. The berries are round and have a rather thick skin . Corvinone wines have an intense aroma, often characterized by dark fruits such as black cherries and plums. They can also feature spicy notes like black pepper and tobacco. The Corvinone grapes have moderate acidity and moderate to high tannins. This gives the wines structure, body and aging potential. They also have a good ability to concentrate flavours and sugars during the drying phase. This makes them particularly suitable for the production of Amarone wine, known for its intensity and complexity. Corvinone is often used in combination with other grape varieties to enrich the character and structure of wines such as Amarone and Valpolicella. The variety contributes to the complexity and ability of the wines to age for long periods.

MOLINARA

The Molinara grape variety is a red grape variety that is mainly grown in the Veneto region of northern Italy. It is often used in combination with other grape varieties such as Corvina and Rondinella to produce wines such as Valpolicella and Bardolino. Molinara grapes are relatively small to medium in size and bright red in color. The berries are elongated and have a thinner skin. Wines made from this grape variety are characterized by fresh, bright aromas reminiscent of red berries such as raspberries and strawberries. They can also have a slightly spicy note. The Molinara grapes tend to have high acidity and low tannins. This gives the wines freshness and liveliness, while the tannins are rather soft and mild. The grapes contain fewer color pigments than other grape varieties and therefore often do not contribute much to the color intensity of wines. It is usually used in smaller proportions to enhance the acidity and freshness of cuvées. The Molinara is often used in cuvées to complement the character and aromas of wines such as Valpolicella and Bardolino. Due to its high acidity, it is also well suited for the production of fresh rosé wines.

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