Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico – iconic Amarone from Veneto

The Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is one of the most famous Amarone wines from Italy. When you are in Verona, the city in the heart of the Amarone region, you come across Tommasi (and Zenato Amarone) encountered in every restaurant. And that says something. Italians are critical of their own wine.

This powerful red wine comes from the historic Valpolicella Classico area in Veneto, just north of Verona. The Tommasi family has been producing wines here since 1902, and the estate is considered one of the benchmarks for traditional Amarone.

The wine is made from a classic blend of local grape varieties, primarily Corvina, Rondinella and Corvinone. After the harvest, the grapes are dried for several months using the famous appassimento method. During this process, the grapes lose moisture and sugars and aromas become concentrated. This creates the characteristic power and complexity for which Amarone is known worldwide.

Tasting note Tommasi Amarone Classico

Amarone ages for several years before it ends up in your glass. You can see that in the color. This Amarone leans towards brownish-red. The aroma is intense and complex, with notes of ripe cherries, plums, and dried fruit, complemented by hints of herbs, cocoa, and light spices.

On the palate, you taste a full, powerful structure with soft tannins and a beautiful balance between ripe fruit and spiciness. Flavors of cherries, figs, raisins, and a hint of chocolate come together in a long, warm finish. Furthermore, the wine has impressive depth and develops beautifully in the glass.

This Amarone is a wine to be enjoyed slowly and is best appreciated with hearty dishes or as a meditation wine after dinner.

Vinification and aging

For Tommasi Amarone, the grapes are dried in special drying rooms for approximately three months after the harvest. As a result, the grapes lose up to about half their weight, making the juice highly concentrated.

After a long fermentation, the wine ages for approximately three years in large Slavonian oak barrels, followed by further aging in the bottle. This ensures extra complexity, round tannins, and impressive aging potential.

Food and wine pairing

Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico pairs excellently with robust dishes, such as:

• grilled or braised beef
• game dishes such as venison or wild boar
• slow-cooked stews
• ripe hard cheeses
• dishes with truffle

In addition, Amarone is also often drunk neat, for example with a cheese board or to finish a dinner.

Tommasi Amarone Classico Della Valpolicella possesses deep aromas of plum, raisins, dates, and cocoa. The intoxicating scent bursts from your glass! On the palate, this Amarone is velvety smooth, round, and coating. Pleasantly sweet with a full flavor of ripe black cherries. Overwhelming! According to connoisseurs in the hospitality industry, this is the very best Amarone in existence. And that says something!

Tommasi Family Business

The Tommasi family business, founded in 1902, is located in Pedemonte, a small village in the heart of the ‘Valpolicella Classico’ region, in the northwestern part of Veneto. The family owns exceptionally beautifully situated wine estates for the production of high-quality wines in the D.O.C. regions around Verona. The area receives particular attention for its incomparable red wines: Amarone Classico della Valpolicella (like this one), Ripasso, Valpolicella, and Recioto della Valpolicella.