Amarone

Amarone della Valpolicella is the great dry red of the Veneto in north-east Italy, made from grapes that have been laid out to shrivel for months before pressing — the appassimento method. Built chiefly on Corvina with Corvinone and Rondinella, the dried grapes concentrate into a rich, full-bodied, velvety wine of dried cherry, raisin, fig, plum and warm spice, with around 15 to 16.5 percent alcohol. Powerful yet dry — its name comes from amaro, "bitter", marking it apart from the sweet Recioto it grew from — it is one of Italy's most prestigious reds and a benchmark for the dried-grape style. It is the classic wine for braised meats, game and hard mountain cheeses, and a famous match for aged Parmigiano-Reggiano.