Valpolicella
The Valpolicella appellation is located in Italy's Veneto region. Wines from this area are made in many different styles, from light and fruity, to brooding and ageworthy. The typical blend is based on local red grapes Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Molinara. On one end of the spectrum, Valpolicella Classico is soft, fruity, and easy to drink. On the opposite end, the formidable Amarone della Valpolicella - made by drying the grapes to concentrate character before vinification - is savory, full of dried fruit flavors and spice, and incredibly age-worthy. Positioned between those two is Valpolicella Ripasso. This wine is made by adding some of the grape must from the Amarone, and refermenting it with Valpolicella, adding some of the wonderful flavors of the dried grapes into a fruity style of wine.