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October 4, 2011
Hotel Gansevoort
New York City
Representatives from 12 Amarone families assembled on October 4, 2011 in New York City to present a seminar, led by Robin Kelly O'Connor, that focused on Amarone wines. Concerned that Amarone is threatened with over production and a lack of regard for quality, the families have banded together to raise awareness of this unique wine. The families have commited to producing Amarone at a higher standard than is currently required. They conducted a guided tasting of Amarone wines from the 2001 vintage as well as from 2004 and 2005. Following the seminar wines from 2001 through 2007 were sampled also.
Amarone is a special wine from the Valpolicella region of Italy. It is made from grapes such as Corvina, Corvinone, Molinara, Rondinella as well as less well known grapes like Didarella, Croatina and Forselina. There are several other approved grapes that may be used. The harvested grapes are placed on mats called graticci to dry until usually the beginning of January. This process causes the grapes to lose about one third of their weight and become much more concentrated. The result is powerful, full bodied wines with at least 14% alcohol and often up to 16%.
The Amarone families--Allegrini, Begali, Brigaldara, Masi, Musella, Nicolis, Speri, Tedeschi, Tenuta Sant’Antonio, Tommasi, Venturini and Zenato feel they are the guardians of tradition for this great wine. They have pledged to adopt a rigid voluntary production code, guaranteeing high levels of quality and retain the noble characteristics of the wine. The families have decided to pick their grapes riper than the legal minimum, to age their wines for 30 months instead of the legal 20 month minimum and they will not classify their wine if the vintage is not up to their standards. Tasting their wines confirms that they are doing everything possible to produce an artisnal product, not just a wine that complies with the regulations.
| Aldo Steccanella |
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| Export Manager for Tenuta Sant'Antonio |
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