RECIOTO DELLA VALPOLICELLA
Italy’s Original Amarone—Sweet, Dried, and Deeply Red
Recioto della Valpolicella is a historic red dessert wine from Italy’s Veneto region, made from partially dried grapes in the same tradition as Amarone—but with fermentation stopped early to preserve natural sweetness. Rich, velvety, and concentrated, Recioto combines ripe red fruit with notes of dried cherry, cocoa, and warm spice. Though less known than its dry sibling Amarone, Recioto offers a lush, soulful expression of Valpolicella’s grapes—perfect for chocolate, aged cheese, or dessert pairings.
Key Characteristics
Recioto is deeply colored, sweet but balanced by tannin and acidity, and made from traditional Valpolicella grapes using the appassimento (drying) method. It’s one of Italy’s oldest known dessert wines.
Style
Red passito-style dessert wine from dried grapes in Valpolicella, Veneto
Sweet counterpart to Amarone della Valpolicella
Body
Full
Acidity
Medium
Primary Grapes
Corvina (dominant), Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara (traditional blend)
Typical Flavors
Dried cherry, fig, blackberry jam, cocoa, rose petal, clove, sweet tobacco, baking spice
Origin & History
Recioto is the original style of the Valpolicella region, dating back to Roman times. The name comes from recie (“ears” in local dialect), referring to the ripest outer grape clusters. Amarone actually evolved from Recioto in the 20th century when a batch fermented to dryness—by accident. Recioto remains DOCG-protected and is made with the same care and drying techniques, though with shorter fermentation to retain sweetness.
How It’s Made
After harvest, grapes are dried on mats or trays for 100+ days to concentrate sugars. They’re then crushed and fermented, but before all sugars are converted to alcohol, fermentation is stopped—either by chilling, filtering, or fortifying. The wine is aged in wood or steel for 1–2 years before bottling.
Notable Styles
Recioto comes in a few variations depending on producer style and regional subzones:
Classic Recioto della Valpolicella
Deep ruby, sweet red fruit, moderate tannin
Recioto Classico
From the historic heart of the Valpolicella region
Recioto della Valpolicella Spumante
Rare sparkling version; sweet and fizzy
Amarone vs. Recioto
Amarone is dry, powerful, and ageworthy; Recioto is sweet, lush, and dessert-friendly
Food Pairings
Recioto pairs best with rich, chocolate-based desserts and aged cheeses, but also complements savory dishes with dried fruit or spice.
With Savory
Duck with cherry glaze, braised short ribs, aged prosciutto, spiced lamb with dried fruit
With Cheese
Gorgonzola, Parmigiano-Reggiano, aged pecorino, blue-veined cheeses, nut-crusted goat cheese
With Dessert
Flourless chocolate cake, cherry tart, dark chocolate mousse, fig cookies, spiced biscotti
How to Serve It
Glassware
Small red wine or dessert glass to capture aromatics
Temperature
Slightly cool: 55–60°F (13–16°C)
Aging Potential
Excellent—can age for 10–20 years, gaining dried fruit, cocoa, and tertiary spice complexity
Storage
Store sealed bottles lying down. Opened bottles should be refrigerated and enjoyed within 5–7 days
Fun Fact
Recioto della Valpolicella is one of the few sweet red wines with DOCG status, and its method of drying grapes (appassimento) has inspired winemaking techniques around the world.
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