Valpolicella Classico is an everyday drinking red wine from Italy that pairs best with everyday food such as pepperoni pizza, red-sauce pasta, risotto, roasted chicken, pork chops in a red sauce, and barbecued foods. The best wines to drink with pasta | BBC Good Food Red wines: Chianti, PARMIGIANO-REGGIANO As a relatively light and appealing Sparkling wines: Prosecco, GRANA PADANO Young Valpolicella pairs well with salads and seafood, pastas like gnocchi, beef-filled tortellini di Valeggio, or pizza. Fresh: Soft and rindless, these can be made with cow, goat or sheep milk. Amarone is wonderful with braised meat dishes, like oxtail stew or bolognese. House of Cheese, Our Favorite Products & Producers, Random Fun! Some are sweeter and milder, but all pack a good deal of sharpness and tang. Cheese for Valpolicella and Montepulciano | Blog - Di Bruno These are normally the most affordable of the Valpolicella wines, and they are good for everyday drinking. Try it with. BRA A Visual Guide to Northern Italy's Chillable, Light-Bodied Reds The best food matches for Amarone | Matching Food & Wine Instead of forming a new taste together, the flavors of the wine and cheese bounced off each other. Plus, you get a bit of herb, spice and smoke in Valpolicella that imparts its own characteristics on the roasted chicken and further improves the taste. Are Valpolicella and Amarone the Same Thing? The modern wines work, but for me the more traditional ones are more fun. Today, this blue- or green-veined cheese comes in two main styles. Amarone della Valpolicella will stand up to this cheese - both in flavour and aroma - without overwhelming any of the more subtle notes in the cheese and your pasta dish. Some are fairly pungent and salty. When wine lovers consider red wines from northern Italy, their thoughts may go directly to the esteemed wines of Barolo and Barbaresco, made with the prestigious Nebbiolo grape. suggestions here to guide you. Quickly answer the question, "What cheese goes with what wine?" Valpolicella: 10 essential facts about the region and its wine - Vincarta It can range in style from soft and subtle to firm, intense, and nutty. Go to Pairing British Cheeses with Wine, Ales and Ciders Those with a superiore label attached to their name must be aged for one year in oak and have a minimum of 12% alcohol; most producers of valpolicella will age even their entry-level bottlings in some form of wood. Flavors of plum and sour cherries gave way to soft tannins on the finish. These wines have very low alcohol content and often have a slight spritz, which helps counteract the smokiness of the cheese. Rarer still, all four wines are produced throughout the region. They tend to be creamy and fairly mild in flavor. While, for main dishes that include Mascarpone, try a lively sparkling wine like Prosecco. With more sugar and less water, the final wines have higher alcohol contents when vinified dry, generally around 15% to 16% ABV. With hot spicy sauces such as arrabbiatta, aglio olio e peperoncino (garlic, oil and chilli) and puttanesca (anchovies, capers and olives) try either a sharply flavoured dry white wine or a rustic Italian red: a Primitivo or Sicilian red, Zinfandel or Valpolicella Ripasso. Traditional Venetian fare such as fegato alla Veneziana, sauteed liver with onions and potatoes, or grilled meats match well with Valpolicella Ripasso. With such a wide range of styles, Valpolicella wines speak to every palate preference. Looking for something specific on GourmetCheeseDetective.com? Although this wine is extremely approachable in its youth, this budget-friendly gem will withstand up to five to seven years in the cellar. Sparkling wines: Prosecco, ROBIOLA DI ROCCAVERANO Wines to match different pasta sauces | Matching Food & Wine Flavors of plum and sour cherries gave way to soft tannins on the finish. But the two sets of flavors coexist in a remarkably respectful way. 2009-2023 Hello Vino, Inc. All rights reserved. What wine goes with ham? In the plans just south of these mountains, Valpolicellas vines rest in rich, alluvial soil. 'Acidity works well to refresh the palate, as fat and salt together are quite dominant factors in tasting,' said Cannon. Part one of our series on Valpolicella and Amarone will help you to know what to expect from the various styles how they taste and some popular food pairings. After a few slices of cheese and sips of wine, the flavors melted into each other to become fruity, sweet, dry, and nutty, all at once. Decanting is definitely an option, but not necessary. Youll find that Valpolicella is also excellent with a Calzone, Panzerotti, or pizza bites. The only thing you should really stay away from is overly acidic foods, like a piece of fish doused in vinegar and lemon juice. As with any wine and food pairing, there are a number of considerations, such as texture, acidity, fat and tannin. The Future 40 Tastemakers & Innovators of 2022, Go Here, Not There: 3 Alternative Destinations to Popular Wine Regions, 8 Bucket-List Drinks Spots Around the World, Wine Enthusiasts 2022 Wine Star Award Winners, California Privacy Rights Do Not Sell My Information, Crisp, dry and young bottlings (Albario, Soave, Pinot Blanc, Muscadet, Vermentino, Verdejo, Arneis, Sauvignon Blanc, young Chardonnay), Off-dry wines (Gewrztraminer or Riesling) for salty cheeses like feta, Very young, fruity, unoaked red wines (Loire Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Gamay, Valpolicella, Zweigelt), Dry, traditional-method sparkling wines (brut Champagne. Italian Wine and Cheese Pairings | F.N. Sharp Recioto is unfortunately rare these days, but if you find a bottle, you should give it a try. Blue: Veins of blue mold run through these. There are also bigger-bodied wines made with the Valpolicella name. Semi-Soft: Theyre not spreadable, nor do they break in shards like a hard cheese. Try drinking a powerful Barolo or Brunello di Montalcino with a little bottle age to match the boldness of this beloved Italian cheese. While a log of bright white goat cheese is iconic, the category also includes farmers cheese, ricotta and others that come in tubs. However, Valpolicella can stand up to quite a bit of acid, so it will take some doing to find a dish that ruins this wine. Recioto, with its sugar, is better around 55 to 60 degrees F (13 to 16 degrees C), not as cold as white dessert wines. The best wine pairings for spaghetti puttanesca. It is not labelled Classico, as when you move outside the original region, the growing conditions change (soil, climate, temperature), which can change the wine profile. A bottle of Classico will be similar to regular Valpolicella, but it will usually have a wider array of aromas, more depth of flavor, and a longer finish. Go to Pairing French Cheeses and Wine Valpolicella and Amarone: Styles & Food Pairings - From The Vine Amarone Food Pairing (new wine guide 2023) | VinYang Check on some French wine and cheese Pairings, and find out for yourself. Marble and Solid Acacia Wood All-In-One Lazy Susan Cheese Board (14 Piece Set), Welcome to winemag.com! The Simple Guide to Wine & Cheese Pairing - Wine Enthusiast They tend to be the richest and creamiest type of cheese, with a soft, spreadable texture. amarone, the full name of which is amarone della valpolicella, is made from late-harvested, dried red wine grapes, half of which must be corvina corvinone, rounded out with rondinella and other local varieties. Red wines: Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello, Lambrusco, Chianti Grapes for amarone production are generally allowed to dry for three to four months; post-fermentation, the wines age for a few years in oak prior to release. Its creamy texture balanced the rough wine and together they tasted hearty, robust, and nutty; like the best pecorino youve ever had. To avoid this, cut it in half (and hide the other half somewhere out of view). Go to Main Italian Cheeses Page By law Valpolicella DOC wines must be made using 45-95% Corvina. To simplify the strategy, cheeses can be divided into six categories. Let us know what wine and cheese youre pairing together by leaving a comment below. This incredibly milky variety is a true delight! Roquefort and Sauternes. This wine guide will help you find the best food pairings for Amarone. Many of the regular Valpolicella and Valpolicella Classico Superiore wines are now labeled Ripasso. Wine with beef with mushroom and onion gravy, Wine with ground turkey or turkey burgers. Valpolicella Food Pairing Valpolicella (vahl-pawl-eh-CHEHL-lah): A red blend with black cherry, dried fruit & licorice. Kind of, but not really. Enjoy it on its own with a delicate garnish of olive oil and seasoning or melted on top of a crispy, wood-fired pizza. The complications of the Valpolicella family, unfortunately, defy simple explanation. It can range in style from soft and subtle to firm, intense, and nutty. Valpolicella (val-poh-li-chel-uh) and Amarone (a-mah-ROH-nay) are members of a family of wines from the same area, and they are made from the same grapes. Drink young Valpolicella Superiore, including Ripasso, at around 60 degrees F (16 degrees C), the coolness bringing out the fruit. Produced from 60% corvina, 15% corvinone, and 20% rondinella grapes, plus a touch of molinara, this intensely fragrant wine shows flavors of dark fruits, violets, milk chocolate, and sweet spice. Santi Valle Reale 04 Montepulciano dAbruzzo: This wine tasted rugged and raw. The Verdict: Pecorino di Grotto , Truffle Tremor. The blend is most often dominated by the corvina grape variety, with the local varieties of rondinella and molinara playing backup roles; rosignola, sangiovese, barbera, bigolona, and negrara are also permitted as well. Wine Pairing Advice: What to Drink With Italian-American Classics The delicate and creamy cheese known as Ricotta is produced by adding milk to the whey that remains after making harder cheeses. The bigger-flavored cheeses (Gorgonzola) pair better with bigger . selections. Red wines: Robust reds from Piedmont regions These wines are fuller than those mentioned previously, with darker color, medium body, and a broader set of flavors. Valpolicella Classico & Food Pairings - (with reasons!) - Drink & Pair Its soft texture and freshness make elegant white wines an ideal match. Purchases made through links on this site do not affect the price you pay for products purchased. Amarone and Recioto are wines that can last for 10 years or more in the bottle and improve with age (although, lets be honest, both are also great upon release). Wine Pairings: Gamay, Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Valpolicella, Earthy reds. . cheese party, an after dinner cheese course or even a grand Ultimate Cheese Course party for some special friends. Its soft structure and rich fruit also make it pleasant to drink on its own. Ham is salty and sweet, and Valpolicella is light, acidic and fruity. Bussola ferments this wine in stainless steel, then moves the wine over to the pressed amarone skins in February and March. Close in style to Parmigiano-Reggiano and also originating from northern Italy, Grana Padano is an unpasteurized cows milk cheese. fortified/dessert wines like port, madeira and sauternes (Gorgonzola, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Piave). Get the latest news, reviews, recipes and gear sent to your inbox. Breakfast Burrito. Red meats, in the form of stracotto, braised beef and all slow-cooked dishes find their ideal contrast in Amarone with its high alcohol content and pliant tannins. Malbecs from Cahors in Southwest France feature similar aromas of vintage leather and undergrowth, along with ripe black fruit and spice. Basics to Pairing Wine with Ham Fruity Wines - Ham, with its sweet-and-salty richness, pairs best with wines that have a touch of sweetness, plenty of acidity and bold fruit. Its hard, aromatic, and buttery-flavored style calls for bolder red wines softened a bit from aging. Simply divine when enjoyed with a beef fillet en croute or coq au vin. Recommended pairings for some popular Italian cheeses: Mozzarella di Bufala A regular Valpolicella can be overwhelmed by heavy, flavourful cuts of meat, like beef or game. Try them with Beef and Venison Tartare, Beef Pho, and Lamb Gyros. White wines: Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Red wines: Big Tuscan reds, Valpolicella, California Merlot, California Zinfandel They are both produced in the Veneto region, near the cities of Venice and Verona, from a blend of local red grapes. However, they will be excellent when paired with roast chicken, light burgers, or anything in that oily vein, as the wine possesses a sharp, biting acidity. The wines bright, palate-coating acidity leads to a refreshing and lingering finish. Click on the image to order your assortment today! The Classico portion lets the buyer know that this wine came from a specific area in Veneto where Valpolicella was historically produced. Valpolicella food pairing: Spaghetti carbonara Montepulciano d'Abruzzo food pairing: Lasagne Vinho verde food pairing: Seafood pasta Sicilian red food pairing: Pasta with tomato sauce Chilean pinot noir: Macaroni cheese Best wine to serve with carbonara - valpolicella (red) Over time, the young wines flavors of cherry and dark berries give way to cooked fruit, including plums and various jams, as well as prunes, hints of sweet spice, chocolate, tobacco, leather, toffee. This youthful valpolicella shows flavors of sour cherry, fresh-picked herbs, and a touch of crushed stones. Valpolicella: What to Know and 5 Bottles to Try - Liquor.com Its name is thought to be a mix of Latin and ancient Greek, and translates to valley of many cellars. The regions revered red wines are diverse, spanning four styles: dry, epic Amarone; the spicy cherry charms of ValpolicellaRipasso; sweet Recioto; and lively, accessible Valpolicella. Regular plain Valpolicella generally lacks enough flavor to stand up to Parmigiano, but better examples of Valpolicella Classico Superiore work (and some good Valpolicella comes from outside the Classico area). NV for young cheese, vintage for riper, more pungent cheeses). Valpolicella is a red wine blend produced in the Veneto region of Italy. One of the more interesting pairings involves Idiazbal with a ros wine made with the Cabernet-relative Hondarribi Beltza. Amarone della Valpolicella Food Pairing | Pasta Evangelists What did you think of it? Once you have tried a few different wine Go to Italian Cheeses N to Z Here is a short list of recommendations which can serve as a starting point for Pairing Italian Cheeses with Wines. Vicki Denig is a wine and travel writer and content creator. Privacy Policy, By continuing to use our Services and/or submitting the above information, you agree to our use of cookies and the terms of ourPrivacy Policy. Below, you will find a description not only of Valpolicella and Amarone, but their variations, too. Additional Sauvignon Blanc food pairing ideas: Green vegetables Chicken Goat and sheep cheeses Riesling and Pad Thai Rieslings feature fresh floral aromas and fruity notes of apple, peach and pear. Impressively, the estate only uses 40% of their grapes to make wine, which ensures that only the highest-quality fruit makes the cut. Fresh: Soft and rindless, these can be. Amarone has just the proper amount of oomph to hold its own against these sharp Roquefort Cheese flavours without overwhelming the cheese.