Wine gets better with age – a saying that has become a scientific fact. Then, what about the regions that have been producing wines for centuries? Do they also get better as they age? As common sense dictates, that must be the case. After all, every craft, including winemaking, should get better and better with experience.
And if so, you can’t question the superior quality of the wines of Veneto. Archaeologists have discovered grape seeds and many other traces that point to a rich winemaking heritage in and around Lake Garda, dating back to the prehistoric age. The ancient Roman tradition of winemaking continues to this date, with the region offering some of the most fabulous Italian reds you will ever taste, including Bardolino and Valpolicella wines.
All You Need to Know About Bardolino and Valpolicella Wines
Bardolino Wines
Among the misty, hilly landscapes of Lake Garda grow different grapes – Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara, and so on, providing the raw ingredients needed to produce fine wines. Among those labels, Bardolino wines are certainly one of the most popular. It was among the first to receive DOC certification, which was granted back in 1968.
Bardolino Wines come in a variety of options, including Classico, Superiore, Novello, Chiaretto Spumante, etc. The grapes used to produce this wine are grown on clay and limestone soil, giving a light taste to the wines. The Superiore version comes with at least one extra percentage of alcohol content and needs to be aged for a minimum of one year before they are released. It is the only variety of Bardolino wines that has a prestigious DOCG status. On the other hand, The Bardolino Chiaretto is a sparkling rose, offering an effervescent taste to enthusiasts.
In general, Bardolino wines come with a slightly spicy finish with cherry, berry, and apple notes. With a perfect level of acidity, the wine pairs well with light pasta and fish dishes, antipasti, salads, and white meats. The locals also pair it with some traditional Verona dishes like risotto and pappardelle.
Valpolicella Wines
Valpolicella wines is another delightful label from the excellent winemaking tradition of Veneto. They contain almost the same grapes used for Bardolino wines yet manage to offer a distinctive taste. The distinction arises from where the grapes are grown – plain lands between Lake Garda and Verona containing volcanic soil. The label also received its DOC recognition back in the ’60s.
The varieties of products offered by the winemaker include Valpolicella Ripasso and Amarone della Valpolicella. The first has distinctive nuances of cherry and cocoa although its fruity aftertaste, it has slight spicy scents. The latter is also known as ‘the great bitter’, with hints of prunes, vanilla and meadow flowers which received its DOCG certification about a decade ago.
Unlike Bardolino, Valpolicella wines exhibit a bold intense bouquet, slightly bitter with pronounced notes of cherry and tobacco. So, naturally, they pair exquisitely well with pasta, mature cheese, game meats, and red meat dishes – steaks, stews, roasts, etc.
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