Amarone della Valpolicella, Classico
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2025
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Slow-cooked beef pot roast, rich wild mushroom risotto, and mature cheeses like aged Asiago or Parmigiano-Reggiano.
✨ Technical Specifications
Zenato, founded in 1960 by Silvano Zenato in the historic Veneto region, is synonymous with the rich red winemaking traditions of Valpolicella. Their signature red wines are crafted primarily from indigenous Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara grapes grown in the clay and limestone soils near Lake Garda. The cornerstone of their premium red production is the ancient 'appassimento' technique, where hand-harvested grapes are dried on bamboo mats for months to concentrate their sugars, aromatics, and structural elements before undergoing slow fermentation and aging in oak casks. This meticulous process yields deeply complex, full-bodied reds characterized by notes of dark cherry, dried figs, cocoa, and sweet spice, embodying the passion and heritage of the Zenato family.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1960 by Sergio and Carla Zenato on the southern banks of Lake Garda, Zenato is an iconic dual-terroir estate celebrated for elevating the profile of Turbiana (Trebbiano di Lugana) as well as mastering classic Veronese reds. The family's viticultural footprint spans mineral-laden, compacted morainic clays in Lugana alongside hillside limestone and calcareous marl terraces at Tenuta Costalunga in Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella. Managed today by second-generation siblings Alberto and Nadia Zenato, the estate emphasizes certified sustainable viticulture under Equalitas frameworks, marrying regional traditions with meticulous modern precision. Winemaking prioritizes varietal clarity, structural longevity, and terroir fidelity, highlighted by temperature-controlled stainless steel aging for whites, wood maturation for selections, and refined appassimento techniques for red expressions. Benchmark labels include the flagship Lugana Riserva Sergio Zenato, Lugana San Benedetto, Metodo Classico Lugana Brut, and monumental red icons including Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva and Ripassa Valpolicella Superiore.
🍇 Grapes
Corvina (45-95%), Corvinone, Rondinella