Amarone della Valpolicella is not your ideal wine when the temperature rises, but is perfect when outside the frost covers the fields. Thus, if you are going to buy a good bottle of Amarone, maybe this is the right moment to do it, because in this second half of January there are two important events in Verona: "Amarone in Villa" and "Anteprima Amarone DOCG". Both are good opportunities to taste many different bottles of Amarone della Valpolicella, made by almost every producer of Valpolicella.

The former event has been organized since 2009 by Merzari's family, Hotel Restaurant Villa de Winckels owners: here, in nice and elegant rooms you can find the most renowned labels of Amarone, from A (as Allegrini) to Z (as Zymè), plus some unknown - and surprisingly good - new producers. At the ticket price (40 Euro) a rich and delicious buffet with local products is included. Also, this edition hosts a vertical tasting of Amarone della Valpolicella 2000 held by the wine critic Nicola Frasson (Gambero Rosso Wine Guide). 

The latter appointment, "Anteprima Amarone DOCG" ("Amarone DOCG Preview") is organized by the association of wine producers, the Consorzio della Valpolicella; it is scheduled for Jan, 31st - Feb, 1st - and shall be hosted in Verona downtown, in Gran Guardia Palace, at a stone's throw from Arena. In this case, though, the Amarone vintage presented is 2011. Saturday is reserved for wine pros (buyers, importers, journalists), Sunday is for the wine lovers; the event belongs to the "From the Expo to the Regions” project led by the Veneto Region and promoted by the Ministry for Regional Cohesion. More info here.

So, if by any chance you were in Verona and somewhere about in those days, save these dates: they are the most important moments to have an idea of what's going on in Valpolicella with its most famous wine...