The soft lights of the houses, the enveloping atmosphere of Christmas and the warmth of the laid tables intertwine in a moment of joy and sharing.
It is precisely in this context that the wines of Valpolicella, with their elegant and complex notes, reveal themselves to be the undisputed protagonists, capable of enhancing the dishes of the holidays and making every toast an unforgettable moment. The magic of Christmas is reflected in the glasses of Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG and Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG, two wine treasures that can express the extraordinary quality of a territory nestled among the hills of Verona. It is here, in the heart of Valpolicella, that the thousand-year-old passion for viticulture is transformed into wines that preserve the scents and flavors of a generous land, perfect for accompanying the holidays with refinement and warmth.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG is a wine of great prestige and complexity, born from the traditional technique of drying grapes. Amarone encloses a range of penetrating aromas on the nose, ranging from ripe red fruit to sweet spices, to nuances of cocoa and tobacco. Its full-bodied and harmonious structure makes it the ideal pairing for sumptuous holiday second courses, such as braised beef in red wine or classic roast beef, but Amarone is also perfect for accompanying mature cheeses, such as Asiago DOP Stravecchio, enhancing the depth of flavors with its intensity.
Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG, on the other hand, is the sweet spirit of this territory. A forerunner of Amarone, it is also obtained by drying the grapes, but requires a stop in the fermentation to preserve the percentage of sugar necessary to guarantee its typical structure. The result is a soft wine with a strong aroma of dried fruit and cherries in alcohol that blend in a perfect balance between sweetness and freshness. Recioto is the ideal accompaniment for holiday desserts, from the traditional Torta Sbrisolona to the more classic Pandoro; also perfect with blue cheeses, it creates a sublime contrast that enhances the richness of the Christmas holidays.
The Consortium for the Protection of Valpolicella Wines, guardian of this thousand-year-old tradition, is one of the partners of the European campaign “That’s Amore – European lifestyle: taste wonderfood”, which aims to promote and encourage the spread and knowledge on the Italian, German and Czech markets of certified products with high quality and food safety standards as well as strongly representative of the territory of origin and production. In addition to the wines protected by the Valpolicella Consortium such as Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, Valpolicella DOC, Valpolicella Ripasso DOC and Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG, the other protagonists of the campaign are some of the flagships of Made in Italy such as Asiago DOP cheese, Nano Vialone Veronese IGP rice, Garda DOP extra virgin olive oil, Tergeste DOP extra virgin olive oil and Veneto DOP extra virgin olive oil, all varieties protected by the Verona Oil Producers Association. A symphony of flavours and traditions, making Christmas a perfect occasion to celebrate the best of Europe’s gastronomic heritage.