Let's talk little, let's talk wine
This is one of the most famous wines from the Valpolicella wine-growing area which extends over the hills north of the historic city of Verona. The vineyards are located at an altitude varying from 150 to 450 meters above sea level . The terroir is made up of red and brown earth, limestone marl and basalt. So what is Amarone ? The secret of this extraordinary wine lies in the raisining (drying on beds of straw or racks) of the region's native grapes. The perfectly healthy and ripe bunch at harvest must not suffer from any defect. The slightest deterioration during passaging results in its elimination. This process lasts at least 3 months with a volume loss of 50% to 70%. During the raisining process, we obtain, of course, a concentration of the grape berries. The grapes were harvested manually at full maturity. Maceration lasts 3 to 4 weeks with alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel vats. After vinification, the wine is then aged in barrels for 2 to 4 years. The wine has a deep ruby color with no notable trace of evolution. On the nose, it is both a synthesis between freshness and aromatic power evoking very ripe black fruits and a floral side, on rose , sweet spices , blond tobacco , with a small balsamic nuance. Despite its high alcoholic strength, this wine develops a seductive aromatic palette. A great wine!
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The little history of the country
Italy
Ah Italy, what a beautiful hedonistic country, people of the Dolce Vita, but what difficulty in understanding its wine organization! The key to understanding the naming system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous country because each region has its own naming system. Italy can, however, give wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, as well as bottles filled with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless and characterless wines which are sold under their most useful and commercially reputable name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco and many others... But let's talk a little history, viticulture in Italy dates back to ancient times and it originated in Greece. The Etruscans would have planted vines and Greek immigrants would have improved and modified the grape varieties who subsequently called this country "Oenotria": the country of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life and certain regions already stood out for the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible testimony to their invasion. Today Italy is the largest wine producer in the world, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic areas. The northern mountains experience a fairly harsh mountain climate. The “middle of the boot” plain is the domain of the continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the "southern part of the Italian boot" the Mediterranean climate reigns with very hot and very dry summers without forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In summary, Italy produces wines of great variety thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originate from their lands. It is a country just as complex as its wines which deserve to be explored!