Recioto (Italy)

About Recioto

Recioto is a passito DOCG wine from the Veneto region in north-east Italy.

The name comes from the local dialect "recie" which means "ears".

The "recie" are the small parts of grape bunches placed on its sides, like ears on the two sides of a face.

These "recie" are more exposed to sunlight and closest to the stem, therefore the sweetest.

In Autumn, after harvest, the "recie" remain in lofts above wineries to dry traditionally for 4 months.

Lofts are well-ventilated to prevent undesired mold from forming.

Towards the end of January, the dried grapes are squeezed and can start the skin contact fermentation, which must be interrupted at the right stage in order to preserve its sweet taste. So it is stored for aging.

A legend says that a winemaker forgot to stop the fermentation, resulting in a bitter Recioto. Bitter in italian is "amaro". The wine was called "the great bitter": Amarone.

The typical grape varieties are Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Molinara.

The Valpolicella Wine Region

The wines from the Valpolicella Wine Region range from light style Valpolicella to strong style Amarone and dessert wine Recioto:

1. Valpolicella: the Lightest.
2. Ripasso: the Bolder.
3. Amarone: the King.
4. Recioto: the Sweet.