Amarone and the Fine Wines of Verona

• First book to focus specifically on the wines of Verona
• In the last four decades, Amarone production has grown from 1 million bottles a year to 14 million, making it one of the world’s fastest growing wines in terms of popularity
• Handy combination of history, winemaking explanation, grape profiles, producer stories and tasting guide
• Author is an expert on and importer of Italian wine and a Decanter World Wine Awards judge

The Veronese wine regions of Soave and Valpolicella – home to Amarone – are currently producing some of the world’s most drinkable quality wines. But both regions still struggle with a reputation for cheap, poor-quality wines brought about through industrial-scale production during the economic depression following the Second World War. In Amarone and the Fine Wines of Verona, Italian wine specialist Michael Garner traces a shift in focus towards new levels of quality driven by a generation of producers inspired by the area’s outstanding potential for producing fine wine.

Both regions produce versatile wines which, as well as being both deliciously drinkable and relatively affordable, have the flavour and structure to accompany a wide range of foods. In Valpolicella an appassimento wine, the famed Amarone, has gained comparable status to Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino, while Soave overlaps with the tiny denomination of Lessini Durello, where sparkling wine is produced from the rare, local white grape Durella.

Garner begins Amarone and the Fine Wines of Verona with a summary of the region’s history, before detailing its geography, grape varieties and approach to both viticulture and winemaking, leading into a discussion of each denomination’s character and wine styles. A cross-section of around 100 producers provides a capsule profile of each, along with analysis of some of their best and most distinctive wines.

For students of wine, those in the wine business and wine adventurers alike, Amarone and the Fine Wines of Verona provides a gateway to a sorely misunderstood wine region.

About the Author

Michael Garner has worked in the wine business for almost 40 years and has specialized in Italian wine for over 30 of those. He is the co-author of Barolo: Tar and Roses, a regular contributor to Decanter, and taught for many years for the WSET. Garner has been a Decanter World Wine Awards judge since 2007 and is a senior judge at Vinitaly International's 5-Star Wines event.