Verona in the Veneto region of northern Italy is well known as the setting of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. It is a gemlike city where millions of travelers each year wish for love in front of the balcony of "Juliet's House." The Adige River curves through the city center, and the medieval bridges and Renaissance buildings along its banks show that Verona has been a hub of culture, art, and trade since ancient times. Even now, the ancient Roman amphitheater Arena di Verona hosts opera performances every summer, and the entire city is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Verona is not only a city of art and romance but also a city of wine. Since Roman times, the hills here have been used for viticulture, and Verona's nobles made wine with their own villas and vineyards. Valpolicella, the hilly area north of Verona, has the nickname "valley of wine." One theory holds that the name comes from the Latin Val polis cellae, meaning "valley with many cellars (for storing wine)."
Accordingly, this area has long served as Verona's wine storehouse. With terraced vineyards running along the hills, it remains today both a production area for Italy's representative red wines and a pilgrimage site for wine lovers.
In 1933, seven entrepreneurs in the area founded the cooperative Cantina Sociale Valpolicella Negrar. It was a decision to protect grape-growing farms and to bottle and sell high-quality wine themselves while preserving local traditions.
In 1936, three years after its founding, the cooperative was making sweet Recioto wine when, by mistake, fermentation was allowed to run too long and a dry wine resulted. According to accounts, the wine was called "Recioto Amaro" (bitter Recioto), which is said to be the origin of the name Amarone. Afterward, several wineries began producing wine using this method.
However, with other producers also claiming to have contributed to Amarone's origin, the debate over the "original" continues to this day. The oldest existing bottle of Amarone is a 1939 vintage, kept in the vault of Cantina Valpolicella Negrar, which presents it as a historical emblem.
Today, Cantina Valpolicella Negrar still manages more than 700 hectares of vineyards with about 230 cooperative members participating. Thanks to their collaboration, the traditions of the Valpolicella area are preserved, and Amarone's reputation continues in the global market.
The Valpolicella area has hilly terrain of mixed limestone and clay with good drainage, and the cool winds from the Adige River and the Alps allow grapes to ripen slowly. As a result, grapes with balanced acidity and sugar grow here, creating Amarone's distinct concentrated flavors. Harvested grapes are meticulously selected and spread out in well-ventilated drying rooms for about 100 to 120 days in the appassimento process. This is the core step in making Amarone.
During appassimento, the grapes lose 30% to 40% of their weight and their sugars and aromas concentrate. Cantina Valpolicella Negrar says, "Appassimento is a complex process. It requires a process of maturation that continually evaluates the delicate balance of environmental factors and the subtle changes within the grapes," adding, "Without urgency, it shows the virtues of patience and longevity and considerably extends the wine's maturation period." The dried grapes are then fermented for an extended period, aged for 18 months in large French oak casks, and, after bottling, aged an additional six months to complete Amarone.
While typical red wines are 13% to 14% alcohol, Amarone reaches 15% to 17%. It gives a rich, weighty yet sweet impression. British wine expert Jane MacQuitty once said, "When autumn comes, Amarone is the wine you must buy," adding, "This wine has a unique, sweet fruit aroma. It gives a warm feeling like mocha and truffle."
Cantina di Negrar Amarone della Valpolicella is made by blending Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella. It shows a deep, dark ruby color, with dried cherry, plum, floral notes, and sweet spices unfolding, delivering an intense yet balanced palate. It is marked by a rich structure, velvety tannins, and a long finish. It pairs wonderfully with beef dishes, aged cheeses, and dark chocolate, and it has excellent long-term aging potential. It won the grand prize in the Old World red wine category at the 2025 Liquor Awards. The importer in Korea is PNS Wine Company.