Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Collezione

Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Collezione is a benchmark Italian red wine from one of Valpolicella's oldest estates, bottled at 14.1% ABV in a standard 750ml format. The 2015 vintage earned a perfect 100 points from James Suckling, who named it the #1 wine on his Top 100 Wines of 2024 list — a rare distinction for any Amarone.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.1%  |  Origin: Valpolicella Classica, Veneto, Italy  |  Aged 7 Years in Slavonian Oak  |  Distillery: Bertani (Est. 1857)

Production & Heritage

Bertani was founded in 1857 and remains one of Valpolicella's most historically significant producers, with vineyards centered on the Tenuta Novare estate in Arbizzano di Negrar. The Collezione is produced from a blend of Corvina Veronese and Rondinella grapes, which are hand-placed in single layers on bamboo racks — a labor-intensive technique requiring hundreds of man-hours that most Amarone producers have abandoned in favor of stacked bins. After 120 days of appassimento drying, the grapes undergo 40 days of maceration and fermentation before aging for seven years primarily in large Slavonian oak casks, a patient approach that defines Bertani's classical style.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dried plum and Morello cherry rise first, followed by layers of tea leaves, hazelnuts, and a thread of cinnamon. Licorice and baking spice develop with time in the glass.

Taste: The entry is dense with ripe blackberry and black cherry, moving into cassis and star anise at mid-palate. Firm yet velvety tannins frame the fruit, while a balanced acidity keeps the sweetness of red berry and soft spice from tipping toward heaviness. There is a serious structural backbone beneath the richness.

Finish: Long and satisfying, with lingering touches of dark chocolate, nutmeg, and dried stone fruit. The tannins resolve gracefully, leaving a warm, spiced echo that persists well after the last sip.

How to Drink Bertani Collezione

This Amarone is best served at 16–18°C (61–64°F) and benefits from at least 30 minutes of decanting; older vintages may need more. Neat in a large-bowled glass is the ideal serve, allowing the complex aromatics to unfold fully. While not a typical cocktail wine, it works in a Sangria Nobile built around dark fruit and cinnamon for a luxurious winter punch, a Valpolicella Negroni variation where it replaces sweet vermouth to add dried-fruit depth, or an Amarone Reduction used as a finishing element in a wine-based cocktail syrup for savory drinks.

Best For

• Gifting a serious wine collector or Italian wine enthusiast
• Celebrating a milestone anniversary or achievement
• Pairing with a formal winter dinner centered on braised or roasted meats
• Adding a cellar-worthy bottle to a long-term wine collection

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bertani Collezione taste like? It delivers concentrated dried black cherry, blackberry, and cassis layered with star anise, dark chocolate, and nutmeg. The texture is dense but balanced by firm, velvety tannins and bright underlying acidity.

How does Bertani Collezione compare to Masi Costasera Amarone? Masi Costasera is widely regarded as an accessible, entry-level Amarone with a shorter aging period and more approachable fruit-forward character. Bertani Collezione occupies a more traditional, age-worthy tier — its seven years in Slavonian oak and hand-laid bamboo-rack drying produce a more structured, complex wine with significantly greater depth.

Is Bertani Collezione good for sipping neat? Absolutely — this is an Amarone built for contemplative, unhurried drinking. Its layered aromatics and long finish reward slow, attentive sipping after a proper decant.

Where is Bertani Collezione made? It is produced by Bertani at their Tenuta Novare estate in Arbizzano di Negrar, within the Valpolicella Classica zone of Veneto, northern Italy. Bertani has operated from this region since 1857.

What foods pair well with Bertani Collezione? Braised beef short ribs complement the wine's dense tannins and dark fruit. Osso buco mirrors its Italian heritage and matches the savory-sweet profile. Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano or Grana Padano echo its nutty, complex character. Dark chocolate desserts align with the cocoa notes on the finish. Roasted game birds such as duck or guinea fowl stand up to the wine's richness without overwhelming it.

What sizes does Bertani Collezione come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is Bertani Collezione worth the price? It positions firmly in the premium-to-ultra-premium tier of Amarone. Given the 100-point James Suckling score for the 2015 vintage, the labor-intensive handmade bamboo-rack drying process, and seven years of oak aging, it represents serious value relative to comparably scored wines from other prestigious Italian appellations.

Why Bertani Collezione?

A perfect 100-point score from James Suckling — and the #1 position on his 2024 Top 100 list — places the 2015 vintage among the most critically acclaimed Amarones ever produced. What separates Bertani from nearly every other producer in the region is the commitment to hand-laying individual grape bunches on bamboo racks for drying, a painstaking process that most competitors have replaced with modern stacked bins. Combined with a full seven years of maturation in large Slavonian oak, the result is an Amarone of rare structural integrity and aromatic complexity. For anyone seeking a traditionally made, age-worthy expression of Valpolicella's greatest wine style, Bertani Collezione stands at the top of the field.