Key Facts about Valpolicella

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Valpolicella has an extension of 35 km. from West to East and 12 km. from North to South. The city of Verona stays in the Southern middle of a complex system of valleys that flow from North (Monti Lessini) to South. The Adige river limits Valpolicella in its western and southern sides.

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Three main areas:

  • Valpolicella Classica
    Wines are generally distinguished by a greater warmth and austerity of character.

  • Valpantena
    Wines are generally distinguished by a greater freshness and elegance, but also great longevity.

  • Eastern Valpolicella
    Wines are generally distinguished by a dynamic and fruity style, with some herbaceous hints.

4 different appellations:

  • Valpolicella DOC

  • Valpolicella Ripasso DOCG

  • Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG

  • Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG

Some specifications you may find on the labels:

  • "Valpolicella Classico":
    wine coming from the "classical" (= historical area of production) area of Valpolicella (see maps)

  • "Superiore":
    from selected grapes, a wine aged minimum 1 year (considered from Jan. 1st after the harvest). It also can specify on the label the Cru of origin, usually with the "Vigna" word followed by the name of the place.

  • "Valpantena":
    a valley part of the Valpolicella DOC (see maps)

Available surface to viticulture

Production

A sharp reduction occurred in 2023, when only ~430 thousand q of grapes were harvested - accomplices were blight attacks in the spring and especially the containment measures taken by winemakers to reduce wine stocks. The 2023 production is about -48% lower than the 2020-2022 average.

Territories and valleys (West to East):

  • Valpolicella Classica

    • Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella

    • Fumane

    • San Pietro in Cariano

    • Marano

    • Negrar

  • Valpolicella

    • Quinzano and Avesa

  • Valpantena

  • Eastern Valpolicella (also named simply Valpolicella Doc)

    • Squaranto

    • Marcellise

    • Mezzane

    • San Briccio di Lavagno

    • Illasi

    • Tramigna

Grapes

The traditional blend of Valpolicella wine is made from these three Indigenous grapes:

  • Corvina
    it's ruled that could be between 45% to 95% of a vineyard

  • Rondinella
    could be between 5% to 30% of a vineyard

  • Molinara
    it was mandatory to use it till 2003 when were adopted some modifications. Now it's an optional grape (see below).

In the last 20 years, winegrowers introduced also:

  • Corvinone
    it could substitute Corvina in a vineyard till the amount of 50%.

Rules of Valpolicella permit to use of other grapes, till a contribution of 25%, split in this way:

  • red, not aromatic grapes, to a maximum of 15% (max. 10% for each variety)

  • other Italian Indigenous grapes, to a maximum of 10%

Among the "others" you may find:

  • Oseleta, Dindarella, Corbina, Spigamonte, Turchetta

  • Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Teroldego.

Here you may see the "Grape Collection" in pictures, with 36 grapes grown in Valpolicella.