Plush, dark, velvety and just a little OTT, there is something inherently luxurious about the Italian red wine amarone della valpolicella. In the last days of winter, the prospect of an evening spent savouring the combination of opulence and bittersweet flavours of dark chocolate, tobacco and black cherries could not be more alluring.
Not that you’d want to indulge every night. These are powerful wines: rarely less than 15% in alcohol and frequently clocking in at more than 16% or even 17% abv, and often with a little more sugar and sweetness than you find in other technically dry reds. A little amarone goes a long way.
