If you buy one Amarone, this is the one we have come back to for a decade, and here is why.

Some wines come and go. Others become part of your life: bottles you return to because they work at the table, reward a little time in the glass, and never leave you wondering whether you made the right choice.

For us, Campagnola’s Amarone della Valpolicella is that wine.

We have loved it for more than ten years. We have shared it, celebrated with it, and cellared it. Across the vintages we have tasted, it has consistently delivered the combination we want from Amarone: depth without heaviness, richness balanced by freshness, fine-grained tannins, and a finish that keeps unfolding.

That consistency is why we recommend it so clearly. If someone asks us where to begin with Amarone, Campagnola is the bottle we point them toward.

Our visit to Campagnola in Marano di Valpolicella was not simply another stop in wine country. It was a long-awaited pilgrimage to the source of one of our most trusted wines. Camille, who grew up in the village above the estate, welcomed us with genuine pride and guided us through the family’s wines.

Tasting the Amarone at the winery did not change our minds about it. It confirmed what we had already learned over a decade of opening bottles at home: this is Amarone with staying power.

Our clear recommendation

Start with Campagnola Amarone della Valpolicella Classico.

It is the Campagnola wine we have returned to for over a decade, with vintages in our cellar from 2012 through 2020. Expect dark dried plum, black cherry, subtle earthy notes, fine-grained tannins, and a long finish with a mineral edge.

It is a particularly good choice when you want an Amarone that feels generous and special without becoming exhausting after the first glass.

Shop the current Campagnola Amarone selection

Wine availability and vintages vary by retailer and location. This link opens the current Campagnola selection rather than sending readers to one fixed vintage.

A Family Legacy Rooted in Valpolicella

Camille explained that the Campagnola family’s winemaking journey began in 1907 with Carlo Campagnola and his wife, Caterina Zardini. After Carlo’s early passing, it was Caterina’s strength and resilience that carried the winery forward through challenging times. The turning point came when their Recioto won acclaim at the Verona Wine Exhibition, a triumph that laid the foundation for what was to come. Today, her name graces their finest wines in tribute. Now in its fifth generation, the Campagnola family continues the legacy with passion, crafting wines from 80 hectares in the heart of Valpolicella Classica.

Campagnola family’s winemaking journey began in 1907 with Carlo Campagnola and his wife, Caterina Zardini.

Campagnola Amarone: the bottle we came for

Our tasting journey covered the full spectrum of Campagnola’s Valpolicella wines, from fresh Valpolicella Classico through Ripasso and Amarone.

The Campagnola Amarone della Valpolicella was the reason we came, and it did not disappoint. It was the star of the tasting: a complete symphony of dark dried plum, black cherry, and subtle earthy undertones, carried by fine-grained tannins and a long, mineral-edged finish.

Amarone is made by drying the grapes for several months before fermentation. The grapes lose roughly 30–40 percent of their weight, concentrating flavour and sugar. But concentration alone is not enough. The wine also needs balance, freshness, and structure.

That is where Campagnola succeeds for us. It has the richness we expect from Amarone, but it remains vibrant enough to keep us reaching for another glass.

For a deeper explanation of the drying process, read our story on how Amarone’s grapes are dried before fermentation.

Our tasting journey covered the full spectrum of Campagnola’s Valpolicella expressions.

We first fell for Campagnola’s Amarone more than ten years ago, and we have kept returning because it continues to deliver what we want from the style: flavour, balance, structure, and the ability to unfold slowly over an evening. Across those vintages, no year has scored below a 9.3 in our own notes, with some reaching as high as 9.7.

So if you are choosing one bottle to understand why Amarone has such a devoted following, this is our recommendation:

Campagnola Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

Open it with braised meat, aged cheese, mushroom dishes, or a meal that deserves time around the table. Better still, open it with people you expect to share many more bottles with.

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We first fell for Campagnola’s Amarone over ten years ago. Tasting at the source only deepened our appreciation.