Amarone Opera Prima
The snapshot of today that signals the 21st edition of Amarone Opera Prima, the event organised by the Consorzio Vini Valpolicella, taking place in Verona (Palazzo della Gran Guardia) from January 31 to February 2, 2025:
- 78 wineries
- 106 accredited journalists, of which 73 come from 26 countries
The event marks the beginning of celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the Consortium, the body that protects and promotes one of Italy’s most important wine denominations. The star of the tasting booths and technical tasting sessions will be the Amarone 2020, which is officially debuting on the market. Meanwhile, on the auditorium stage, all eyes will be on actor and theater director Andrea Pennacchi, who will present “Amarone, epopea in Valpolicella,” a monologue created for the Consortium’s centenary.
For President Christian Marchesini, “In this special edition, Amarone Opera Prima looks to the future and, in particular, to the new areas of potential growth for the denomination in an accelerated evolving scenario, which requires us to shift our paradigm through renewed strategies and approaches. This is a commitment that sees us increasingly active in promotion, and one that the companies are rewarding both in terms of record participation in the event and in their adherence to the Consortium, with 51 new members in 2024.”
Amarone Opera Prima
Amarone Opera Prima begins on Friday, January 31, with a program exclusively for the national and international specialized press (by invitation only), featuring two masterclasses. The first, “Amarone: iconic of fine dining in the world’s 50,” led by expert JC Viens, will focus on tasting a selection of Amarone wines featured on the wine lists of the world’s top 50 restaurants, according to the annual ranking compiled by the British magazine Restaurant (Palazzo della Gran Guardia, 10:30 AM). Following this, a three-Michelin-starred lunch by Giancarlo Perbellini at the Teatro Filarmonico. In the afternoon, MW Andrea Lonardi, also Vice President of the Consortium, will host “La memoria del tempo, a journey through historic vintages of Amarone” (3:00 PM, Palazzo della Gran Guardia).
Saturday, February 1, will see the focus “Valpolicella: 100 years between past and future of the denomination” open the event’s schedule, with speeches by Christian Marchesini, President of the Consorzio Vini Valpolicella, and Carlo Flamini, head of the Wine Observatory of Unione Italiana Vini, moderated by Andrea Andreoli, Director of Telenuovo. Afterward, the curtain will rise on Andrea Pennacchi’s new theatrical performance. From 12:30 PM, the tastings at the booths of the 74 producers will begin. Starting from 4:00 PM, the “Amarone lovers” will also be welcomed. This will continue into Sunday, February 2 (from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM), which will conclude with the aperitif “Valpolicella: freshness and creativity in the glass,” organized by the Young Group of the Consortium.
