Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico Riserva 2016
€74.00
6 in stock
Italy: shipping from €13 · Free over €99Change
Vinous 96James Suckling 95Falstaff 94
Critic scores for the 2015 vintage
Bottle: 750ml
Vintage: 2016
Alcohol: 16%
Grapes: 15% Corvina, 15% Corvinone, 30% Rondinella, 30% Molinara, 10% Oseleta
Ageing: Refinement in French oak tonneaux for seven years, followed by two years of bottle aging in underground cellars.
Aromas: Blackberry, balsamic hints, white pepper, and a bouquet of rose hips and violets, enriched by undertones of caramel, toasting, and vanilla.
Grown at 500 metres in Marano, which is high for Amarone and shows in the freshness. A Riserva that stays lifted rather than turning syrupy.
- Drink
- Now to 2038
Our wine bar and wine shop in Venice
In San Polo since 2013. This wine over the last 12 months
- 6bottles taken home from our shop
- 1 to 3 bottles
- 4 to 6 bottles
- 7 to 12 bottles
Vintage 2016
Stars from the Consorzio Tutela Vini Valpolicella, for Amarone della Valpolicella
An excellent year. A cool summer, then a warm, breezy September that ripened the grapes well.
A cool, damp summer, then a warm, breezy September that finished the ripening well.
The winter was warm and dry; cold and rain returned from early April to mid May. July and August were cooler than average with frequent rain, and one hailstorm hit a small area high in the hills. Downy mildew was a challenge, above all around 10 June after four days of rain. September turned fine, with warmth and good ventilation keeping humidity low, and picking for the drying grapes began at the usual time. Fruit set was abundant in every variety.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico by Tenuta Santa Maria Valverde
Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Italian winemaking with the exquisite Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG from the renowned Tenuta Santa Maria Valverde. Nestled in the idyllic hills of Marano di Valpolicella, this exceptional wine is a tribute to the region’s deep-rooted viticultural heritage.
Terroir and Tradition: Grown at 500 meters above sea level, the vines thrive on ancient, disintegrating lava terrains in the Purano sub-area, known historically for exclusive Amarone production. The south-facing vineyards, graced by over 200-year-old dry stone walls, are planted with a dense arrangement of 5290 vines per hectare. Here, a blend of Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara, and Oseleta grapes, each contributing a unique character, is nurtured on traditional artisanal pergolas.
Vintage and Vinification: With over 20 years of vineyard maturity, each vine yields 1.5 kg of grapes, carefully harvested from mid-October to late November. The wine undergoes a meticulous withering process, honoring ancient methods and resulting in a significant weight loss of 45%. The slow, natural fermentation with indigenous yeasts, coupled with temperature-controlled fermentation in cherry wood vats, underpins the wine’s distinctive profile. Its refinement in French oak tonneaux for seven years, followed by two years of bottle aging in underground cellars, adds layers of complexity.
Bottling Excellence: Only 4000 bottles are produced annually, each numbered to reflect its exclusivity. Housed in the weighty “Borgognotta” bottle, it ensures optimal preservation against thermal and light shocks, making it a perfect candidate for prolonged aging.
Sensorial Journey: Boasting a rich ruby red color with purple violet reflections, the wine reveals an intense and persistent aroma. The olfactory experience is a symphony of blackberry, balsamic hints, white pepper, and a bouquet of rose hips and violets, enriched by undertones of caramel, toasting, and vanilla from its oak aging. On the palate, it unveils an aromatic complexity, balancing incisive spiciness and acidity with a wraparound warmth, tasteful freshness, and pleasant sapidity. The tannins are well-presented, gently drying the mouth.
Gastronomic Pairings: This Amarone is a versatile companion to a range of culinary delights. From pasta and game to elaborate red meats, fresh and aged cheeses, and even sweet and bitter chocolate, its elegance and structure make it a perfect match.
Sustainable Impact: With an ecological footprint of 1.04 CFP CO2/kg, this wine demonstrates a commitment to sustainability.
Optimal Service: While the standard serving temperature is 16°C, a slightly lower temperature is recommended in summer, showcasing its delightful versatility.
This Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico by Tenuta Santa Maria Valverde, with its deep roots in tradition, meticulous crafting, and exceptional taste profile, promises to be a timeless addition to any wine connoisseur’s collection.
United States
- 1 to 3 bottles€85
- 4 to 6 bottles€94
- 7 to 12 bottlesRegular price €168, now €134
- 13 to 18 bottles€223
- 19 to 24 bottles€273
Customs and the 15% tariff are paid by us
Certified isothermal packaging, temperature controlled transport
Insured in full, at our cost
Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico: €70 extra per shipment
Canada
- 1 to 3 bottles€55
- 4 to 6 bottles€70
- 7 to 12 bottlesRegular price €100, now €70
- 13 to 18 bottles€170
- 19 to 24 bottles€195
Customs and local taxes are paid by the recipient
Certified isothermal packaging, temperature controlled transport
Insured in full, at our cost
United Kingdom, 
Norway, 
Switzerland
- 1 to 3 bottles€30
- 4 to 6 bottlesRegular price €48, now €30
- 7 to 12 bottlesRegular price €60, now €30
- 13 to 18 bottles€84
- 19 to 24 bottles€108
Customs and local taxes are paid by the recipient
Certified isothermal packaging, temperature controlled transport
Insured in full, at our cost
Singapore, 
South Korea, 
Hong Kong, 
Japan
- 1 to 3 bottles€70
- 4 to 6 bottles€100
- 7 to 12 bottles€100
- 13 to 18 bottles€240
- 19 to 24 bottles€295
Customs and local taxes are paid by the recipient
Certified isothermal packaging, temperature controlled transport
Insured in full, at our cost
Australia, 
New Zealand
- 1 to 3 bottles€70
- 4 to 6 bottles€100
- 7 to 12 bottles€100
- 13 to 18 bottles€240
- 19 to 24 bottles€295
Customs and local taxes are paid by the recipient
Certified isothermal packaging, temperature controlled transport
Insured in full, at our cost
Taiwan
- 1 to 3 bottles€70
- 4 to 6 bottles€100
Customs and local taxes are paid by the recipient
Certified isothermal packaging, temperature controlled transport
Insured in full, at our cost
For more than 6 bottles to Taiwan, write to us for a quote
Germany, 
Belgium, 
Luxembourg, 
Netherlands
- 1 to 3 bottles€18
- 4 to 6 bottlesRegular price €28, now €18
- 7 to 12 bottlesRegular price €36, now €18
- 13 to 18 bottles€52
- 19 to 24 bottles€68
Customs included
Certified isothermal packaging, temperature controlled transport
Insured in full, at our cost
France, 
Austria, 
Denmark
- 1 to 3 bottles€20
- 4 to 6 bottlesRegular price €36, now €20
- 7 to 12 bottlesRegular price €40, now €20
- 13 to 18 bottles€56
- 19 to 24 bottles€76
Customs included
Certified isothermal packaging, temperature controlled transport
Insured in full, at our cost
Portugal, 
Spain
- 1 to 3 bottles€26
- 4 to 6 bottlesRegular price €44, now €26
- 7 to 12 bottlesRegular price €52, now €26
- 13 to 18 bottles€68
- 19 to 24 bottles€92
Customs included
Certified isothermal packaging, temperature controlled transport
Insured in full, at our cost
Ireland, Northern Ireland, 
Sweden, 
Finland
- 1 to 3 bottles€30
- 4 to 6 bottlesRegular price €48, now €30
- 7 to 12 bottlesRegular price €60, now €30
- 13 to 18 bottles€84
- 19 to 24 bottles€108
Customs included
Certified isothermal packaging, temperature controlled transport
Insured in full, at our cost
Rest of the European Union
- 1 to 3 bottles€34
- 4 to 6 bottlesRegular price €56, now €34
- 7 to 12 bottlesRegular price €68, now €34
- 13 to 18 bottles€92
- 19 to 24 bottles€124
Customs included
Certified isothermal packaging, temperature controlled transport
Insured in full, at our cost
Italy, mainland
- 1 to 3 bottles€13
- 4 to 6 bottles€15
- 7 to 12 bottles€17
- 13 to 18 bottles€24
- 19 to 24 bottles€32
Free on orders over €99
Certified isothermal packaging, temperature controlled transport
Insured in full, at our cost
Italy, islands and Calabria
- 1 to 3 bottles€20
- 4 to 6 bottles€22
- 7 to 12 bottles€25
- 13 to 18 bottles€30
- 19 to 24 bottles€35
Free on orders over €99
Certified isothermal packaging, temperature controlled transport
Insured in full, at our cost
Tenuta Santa Maria Valverde is a small, self-sufficient estate perched 500 m up the Marano hillside, one of Valpolicella Classica’s most prized crus. Owner-winemaker Nicola Campagnola restored the 19th-century family cellar and now farms four traditional varieties, Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and the rarer Molinara Oseleta, on south-facing clay-chalk terraces stocked at 5,200 vines per hectare. Every cluster is hand-selected; the finest are laid aside for appassimento, ultimately becoming an Amarone that captures the vineyard’s altitude, limestone, and wide day-night temperature swings.
Viticulture here traces back to Napoleonic land registers (1807 to 1816), yet the Campagnola family’s ties run deeper: an ancestor opened Verona’s first “direct retail” wine outlet beneath Porta Borsari in the early 1900s. Successive generations survived war and economic upheaval, always returning to the hill’s thin soils and sweeping views. Today Nicola, inspired by his forebears’ resilience, balances heritage methods, dry-stone terraces, manual pruning, natural air-drying lofts, with careful cellar practices that protect fruit purity and terroir detail.
The result is a line of DOC and DOCG Valpolicella wines that speak clearly of a single hillside, an ancient chapel, and two centuries of family stewardship, tradition refined by thoughtful innovation.
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