Why is it called Ripasso?

Rather than chuck away so much tannic treasure, winemakers began using the skins in a second fermentation of Valpolicella, essentially infusing the wine with more complexity. Thus, Ripasso, meaning “re-pass,” or “go over again,” a process that proved so successful it was given its own DOC in 2007.

What Ripasso means?

Derived from the word "ripassare" meaning "to pass again." The technique involves pouring a simple Valpolicella over marc and residues from Amarone or Recioto.

What is the difference between Valpolicella and Ripasso?

Valpolicella Superiore is aged at least one year and has an alcohol content of at least 12 percent. Valpolicella Ripasso is a form of Valpolicella Superiore made with partially dried grape skins that have been left over from fermentation of Amarone or recioto.

What is the difference between Ripasso and Amarone?

First of all, because they're not made with fresh grapes like all the other wines. Amarone is produced with grapes dried for 3 months, Valpolicella Ripasso is made with 2 fermentations, the first one with fresh grapes and the second one in contact with Amarone skins.

What kind of grape is Ripasso?

The grapes used to make Valpolicella Ripasso are Corvinone, Corvina and Rondinell. Corvina is generally regarded as the finest of the three, and is certainly the most traditional. The DOC requires between 45 and 95 percent Corvina and 5 to 30 percent Corvinone.

Monica Larner on the Ripasso method

What is the difference between Ripasso and Appassimento?

Ripasso is now used to identify a category of wine made in this way and has its own official denomination. Appassimento refers to the process of drying grapes to make wine – it's carried out in Valpolicella on a much wider scale than anywhere else.

Is Ripasso a baby Amarone?

Description: Its color is deep bring red. The aroma is ample with mainly red fruits especially sour cherries, prunes, and cherries. The taste is strong in flavor but balanced with soft tannins and good persistence.

What is Ripasso similar to?

Ripasso-style wines offer a convenient and affordable alternative to Amarone wines. Ripasso wines are rich, full-bodied and share some of the same aroma and flavor profiles as Amarone wines, just less so.

Is Valpolicella Ripasso sweet or dry?

Ripasso Serving Suggestions

Although it is made using medium sweet wines, Ripasso is quite dry and can be enjoyed alone or alongside a wide range of savory dishes.

How long should Ripasso breathe?

How Long Should Ripasso Breathe? Generally, an hour or two of breathing in the bottle is sufficient for heavier Italian red wines such as Ripasso and Amarone, although decanting can also be helpful.

Why is it called Amarone?

In Italian, the name Amarone literally means "Great Bitter"; originally, this was to distinguish it from the Recioto produced in the same region, which is sweeter in taste.

Is Valpolicella the same as Amarone?

While Valpolicella is a youthful dry red wine produced without ageing, Amarone is made by fermenting dried grapes and ageing them for two years. Ripasso calls for re-fermentation with added Amarone grape skins and then aging for one year.

Is Amarone the same as Amarone della Valpolicella?

Some regions, like the Veneto region, also create their own Amarone wine. If Amarone is produced in the Valpolicella region, then it is also a Valpolicella wine. In fact, the proper name of Amarone is Amarone della Valpolicella Classico. So for you not to have a tongue twister, just call it Amarone.

What is a Ripassa wine?

Ripasso is an ancient wine making technique used for centuries in Valpolicella wineries and now become very popular among wine enthusiasts. Ripasso, sometimes also called double fermentation, is a method used to give more structure, body and flavours to the basic Valpolicella wine.

What does Valpolicella mean in English?

Definition of valpolicella

: a dry red Italian table wine.

How do you drink Valpolicella Ripasso?

With such a wide range of styles, Valpolicella wines speak to every palate preference. A nice, fresh Valpolicella with some good friends is a great way to start an evening, and a slightly chilled glass of Recioto is the perfect way to finish it off.

Should I decant Valpolicella Ripasso?

Younger wines such as Valpolicella classico can be drunk soon after opening without any breathing, but can be decanted also.

How long does Valpolicella Ripasso keep?

SHELF LIFE. If the wine is stored correctly it can keep for 5 to 8 years. COLOR. Intense, deep ruby red.

What is Super Tuscan wine?

“Super Tuscan” is a term used to describe red wines from Tuscany that may include non-indigenous grapes, particularly Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. The creation of super Tuscan wines resulted from the frustration winemakers had towards a slow bureaucracy in changing Italy's wine law during the 1970s.

Is Valpolicella Ripasso a dry wine?

Valpolicella Ripasso

Ripasso style wines are kind of in between Amarone and Valpolicella Superiore – it has a dried fruit flavour, alcohol around 13%, more colour and texture than Superiore and a bit more body too – like the baby brother of Amarone.

What does Recioto mean in Italian?

Recioto is an Italian wine word. It refers to wines that have been made from 'dried' grapes, or grapes that are harvested when ultra ripe then left out to dry and 'raisin' before fermentation. As such Recioto wines are naturally sweet wines.

What is the most well known sparkling wine from the Veneto?

Prosecco. One of the most exported Italian white wines, Prosecco is a sparkling wine that comes in three levels of perlage, the bubbliest spumante (sparkling), followed by frizzante (semi-sparkling), and tranquillo (still). Prosecco is made exclusively in the regions of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

What grape is Amarone made from?

Amarone della Valpolicella is made with local grapes Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella (and often also with addition small amounts of other red not aromatic varieties recommended or authorized for the province of Verona) generally picked (barring anomalous weather conditions) between the last ten days of September and the ...

What do you eat with Valpolicella Ripasso?

Ripasso goes well with earthy dishes like with meat sauces, meatloaf, and eggplant dishes. Amarone della Valpolicella: The heartiest of Valpolicella's four styles, Amarone is made with dehydrated grapes, for a full body and cherry, plum, and pine resin notes.

What does Doc mean on wine bottles?

Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC): The next highest quality level is Denominazione di Origine Controllata, or DOC, which means “designation of controlled origin.” There are 329 different DOCs in Italy, which cover many types of wine, from the sparkling wines of Prosecco, to the Vin Santo dessert wines of ...