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The wines of Valpolicella have a confused reputation as both a cheap and light party
drink and also as a ripe, concentrated, full bodied wine for those with time to
savour it. The wine is grown around Verona, better known from Shakespeare's
time as the home of Two Gentlemen and those star crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet,
but the area does have an even earlier claim to wine fame. The presence of
grapevines in the Verona area dates to the Eocene epoch about 40 million years ago.
Winemaking in the region dates back at least to the time of the ancient Greeks who
are thought to have initiated the use of partially dried grapes which are now used
to make the speciality of the region - Amarone and Recioto.
We will be tasting a range of wine styles slightly younger than Eocene, from one producer
Gerardo Cesari, starting with Valpolicella Classico through the twice fermented
Ripasso to the Amarone and ending with the sweet Recioto.
The wines:
Fiorile Pinot Grigio delle Venezie IGT 2008
Valpolicella Classico DOC 2008
Mara Vino di Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore DOC 2007
Bosan Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso DOC 2006
Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOC 2006
Il Bosco Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOC 2004
Bosan Amarone della Valpolicella DOC 2001
Recioto della Valpolicella Classico DOC 2007
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