Bartolomeo Lorenzi Rosso Veronese 2021

Northern Italy's village of Valpolicella is famed for its iconic, opulent Amarone. But in local cafes and with dinner at home, you'll find fresh young 'Veronese' reds like this in everyone's glass.

Bartolomeo Lorenzi 'Rosso Veronese' is crafted by Daniele Accordini, a hugely talented, well-respected oenologist in the region. He's the head winemaker at Cantina Valpolicella Negrar, the very first winery to bottle and label a wine under the Amarone name, back in 1933. Today, they have an excellent reputation for producing world-class wines. In fact, they were awarded the title of Best Italian Cooperative Winery three times (in 2016, 2017 and 2019) by Weinwirtschaft, the leading wine trade magazine in Germany.

This authentic local red is crafted from the same grape varieties that go into Amarone (Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella), but it's made in a fresher, juicier style. These grapes come from the cool Marano Valley, where grapes take longer to ripen, which adds depth, character and freshness to the wines.

Look forward to aromas of red cherry, red berries, cocoa and sweet spices. The palate is soft, ripe and smooth, but also has a welcome streak of acidity that keeps things balanced. Fruit-driven with gentle tannins, it offers flavors of juicy cherry and ripe plum and a long, fresh finish.

This 'Rosso Veronese' is the newest addition to Daniele’s Bartolomeo Lorenzi range, which is named after an 18th century abbott and poet whose “Della Coltivazione de' Monti” described the work of local farmers over the four seasons and helped popularize Valpolicella’s wines.

The wine provides an endless variety of food-pairing options. Aged cheeses are a winner, as are full-flavored, creamy cheeses (notoriously difficult to pair with red wines). Locally, Taleggio would be served, but Brie will also be delicious. If it’s dinnertime, try dishes starring veal (such as osso buco), lamb, short ribs or pasta in a hearty duck ragu.

Top tip: Try it slightly chilled, like the locals do. And as our expert Leonardo says, “This wine shows much more complexity that you'd expect at this price point. Once you open the bottle the wine keeps changing in the glass during the meal, and the fruit, spice notes and acidity all come together beautifully. It has such great balance.”