Sopra Sasso Amarone Della Valpolicella DOCG

Sopra Sasso Amarone Della Valpolicella DOCG.

Got it? Unless you’re fluent in Italian you’ll be wondering what on earth that all means. It’s all good, we’re here to break it down for ya…

Sopra Sasso – the name of the label, it means “stone balancing”
Amarone Della Valpolicella – made from Valpolicella grapes that are dried for 4-5 months
DOCG– Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita is the top level of a four tier Italian wine classification system

From Veneto in the north-west of Italy – an area best known for producing the world famous Valpolicella red wine. Amarone Della Valpolicella is one of the top wines of Italy and a style that follows an Ancient Roman technique of grape drying (called “appassimento”). The best grapes are picked and laid on racks in special air-conditioned lofts and left to dry for 4-5 months. By this stage the grapes have lost 35% of their original weight and have highly concentrated sugars.

The wine is aged for a further 2 years in oak cask before release – although this is a style of red that can easily cellar for 10 years! This is a big, full bodied red full of dried red fruit flavours and velvety smooth tannins. An absolute delight!

Imported into NZ by Master of Wine Steve Bennett and packaged under this sexy looking label with embossed bottle. Pair it with braised meats and aged cheese.