DOCG Red

Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG

Tommasi Viticoltori

Grapes
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella
Denomination
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
Region
Veneto
ABV
15%
Drink
Now to 2040

Tommasi's flagship Amarone Classico: grapes dried three months, three years in Slavonian oak, 15%. Black cherry, prune and dark chocolate with silky tannin, and drinkers love it year after year. £55.25 in the UK for the 2021.

Best price
£42.94 Save 25%

2021 · 75cl · checked 8 Oct

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Where to buy Tommasi Viticoltori Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

£42.94 best price · 2 retailers in stock · checked 8 Oct 2026

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Vinissimus Best price Save 25% 2021 · 75cl · checked 8 Oct
Read from the retailer's page once a day. Confidence is low, so treat it as a guide and confirm at the retailer.
£42.94 was regular price £57.25 £57.25/L
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Vino Best price Save 25% 2021 · Double magnum 300cl · checked 8 Oct
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£172.00 was regular price £229.33 £57.33/L
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Unavailable (1)
Majestic Best price 2021 · 75cl · checked 8 Oct
Out of stock
£47.00 £62.67/L
Out of stock

Stock status is read from each retailer’s page once a day and may lag. Case and magnum listings show a per-bottle or per-litre equivalent and sit outside the best-price figure.

Tasting Notes

What Tommasi's Amarone della Valpolicella Classico tastes like

Tommasi dries the grapes for three months and ages the wine three years in big Slavonian oak casks. The result, at 15%, is ripe black cherry, prune and dark chocolate with tobacco from the cask, a style drinkers love year after year.

Tasted by
ItalianWines editorial
Tasted on
1 September 2026
Vintage in glass
2021
Source
Drinker consensus · confidence Medium
Typical of Corvina
Body Light / Full
Tannins Smooth / Grippy
Sweetness Dry / Sweet
Acidity Soft / Crisp
Nose

Very ripe black cherry and plum, then prune and raisin from the three months the grapes spend drying. Oak, dark chocolate and tobacco come next, the mark of three years in Slavonian casks. Wild berries and a light spice sit underneath, the notes Tommasi itself picks out.

CoffeeCoffee
Black cherryBlack cherry
CherryCherry
PlumPlum
PrunePrune
RaisinRaisin
TobaccoTobacco
SpicySpicy
ChocolateChocolate
Palate

Full-bodied at 15%, dry but soft, with the sweet-fruited feel that drying the grapes gives. The tannin is silky rather than grippy; James Suckling called the 2018 a textbook Amarone with freshness and concentration. It favours balance over power, so it never turns jammy.

Finish

Long, warm and savoury, ending on dried fig, coffee and an earthy note.

Overall

The Tommasi family's flagship and one of the most popular Amarones, loved by drinkers year after year, with the 2021 already standing out as a top year. It sits below the Ca' Florian Riserva in the range. Drink from 2026, best around 2032, with game or a braise.

Drink now Best by 2040
Live UK pricing

Tommasi Amarone Classico in the UK: what to pay

Vinissimus sells the 2021 Classico at £55.25, and vino.com has a three-litre bottle in a wooden box on offer at £231. Tommasi's own shop charges €36.90, so the UK price carries the importer's and the merchant's margin on top.

Best price · 75 cl £42.94 at vinissimus
Price spread £42.94 - £172.00 Across 2 UK retailers tracked
Retailers tracked 2UK 2 in stock
Vintages live 2021 Current release: 2021
Per-litre (75 cl basis) £57.25 Per-litre price for the lowest current offer
Last checked 8 Oct 2026 Refreshed once every 24 hours
Wine fit score

How Tommasi Amarone scores on the Italian Wine Fit Score

Top marks for occasions and the cellar, low for everyday drinking. At 15% and £55 this is a winter dinner or gift wine, not a Tuesday pour.

Best for an occasion 9.0/10

Amarone DOCG from a family house, 94 points from James Suckling for the 2018 and one of the most popular Amarones with drinkers: a dinner-party or gift bottle.

Best for cellar 8.5/10

Three years in cask, 15% alcohol and a track record back to 1981, a vintage drinkers still love, make this a wine that keeps for decades.

Best with food 8.2/10

Made for game, braises and mature cheese; at 15% with dried-fruit richness it overwhelms light food.

Best value 7.0/10

At £55.25, an Amarone drinkers love year after year, with a Suckling 94 on the 2018, is fair value for a big-name Classico; Tommasi sells it for €36.90 at the cellar door.

Best intro to this style 6.0/10

Soft, ripe and sweet-fruited, which drinkers love, but 15% alcohol and a £55 price make it a step up rather than a starting point.

Best everyday bottle 2.0/10

At £55 and 15%, with a texture built for winter food, this is not a weeknight wine.

Scoring is rule-based and deterministic. The model and weightings are documented in our Wine Fit Score methodology.

Denomination Compliance Snapshot

Amarone della Valpolicella in five fields

A compact view of what the Amarone della Valpolicella denomination actually requires, and how this bottle sits inside it. Pulled from the official Italian disciplinare.

Allowed grapes
3 varieties listed
This bottle: Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella.
Minimum ageing
24 months minimum
No oak ageing required.
Region / area
Verona
Source: Disciplinare.
Style
DOCG · Amarone della Valpolicella
Minimum ABV at this colour: 14.0%.
Classification
DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita)
What that means →
Vintages

Tommasi Amarone 2021: open now or keep

The 2021 already stands out as a top year for this wine with drinkers. Three years in cask mean it arrives ready, but James Suckling's advice on the 2018 stands: it gets better with a few years.

2021 Current release
Best price
£42.94
Retailers
2 in stock
ABV
15.0%
Window
Drink now through 2040

Vivino drinkers already rate the 2021 a top year for this wine, 4.2 from 522 ratings. Three years in Slavonian oak mean it arrives ready to open, but James Suckling's advice on the 2018 applies: it gets better with a few years. Drink 2026 to 2040.

2021 Current release
Best price
£42.94
Retailers
2 in stock
ABV
15.0%
Window
Drink now through 2040

Vivino drinkers already rate the 2021 a top year for this wine, 4.2 from 522 ratings. Three years in Slavonian oak mean it arrives ready to open, but James Suckling's advice on the 2018 applies: it gets better with a few years. Drink 2026 to 2040.

Drink-now / hold guidance reflects general style cues for this wine, not a forecast for a specific bottle. Where vintage-level editorial notes exist, they appear above.

The disciplinare, the place, the label

What sits behind a £55 Amarone from Tommasi

Amarone is expensive to make. Tommasi dries the grapes for three months, losing weight and juice, then holds the wine three years in oak. The DOCG caps yields at 12 tonnes a hectare and demands 14% minimum; this is 15%.

01

DOC, DOCG, IGT: what the badges mean

Italian wine law sorts bottles into a pyramid. DOCG sits at the top: tightly drawn boundaries, prescribed grapes, mandatory ageing, government tasting before release. DOC is the same idea with looser thresholds. IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) is broader still, requiring only that 85% of the grapes come from the named territory.

Amarone della Valpolicella is in the DOCG tier. That is not a quality verdict, it is a description of how much freedom the producer has at vinification and ageing.

02

The denomination rules, in detail

  • Allowed grapes. 3 varieties listed in the disciplinare
  • Yield ceiling. 12.0 tonnes per hectare
  • Minimum ABV. 14.0% vol
  • Minimum ageing. 24 months total
  • Tasting panel. Mandatory pre-release tasting commission
03

Region and area context

Amarone della Valpolicella falls within Veneto, covering Verona. The denomination is further divided into 2 sub-zones.

Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG zone The producer Wine routes in the zone

Made at Tommasi Viticoltori, Pedemonte. Directions

Wine routes in the zone: Valpolicella Classico Loop, Strada del Vino Soave.

04

Reading the label

  • Tommasi ViticoltoriProducer / estate
  • Corvina · Corvinone · RondinellaGrape varieties
  • Amarone della Valpolicella DOCGGeographic indication and quality tier
  • 2021Vintage (year of harvest)
  • 15.0% volAlcohol by volume
  • Imbottigliato all’origineEstate-bottled
05

What sits behind the price of Tommasi Viticoltori Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

Tracked from
£42.94
Direction
Mostly cost up
Drivers
4 up / 1 down
Main factor
Three months drying the grapes before pressing
  1. 01

    Three months drying the grapes before pressing

    Cost up

    Tommasi dries hand-picked grapes for about three months on racks in a ventilated loft, the appassimento step that makes Amarone. The grapes lose weight as they dry, so each bottle needs far more fruit than a Valpolicella.

  2. 02

    Three years in Slavonian oak casks

    Cost up

    The wine rests three years in 35 and 65 hectolitre Slavonian oak casks before bottling, a year beyond the 24-month minimum the DOCG demands. That is cellar space and capital tied up before a bottle is sold.

  3. 03

    Grapes from two named hillside plots, La Groletta and Conca d'Oro

    Cost up

    Tommasi sources this Amarone from two of its own hillside plots in the Classico zone, La Groletta and the limestone Conca d'Oro, rather than bought-in grapes. Estate fruit from named sites costs more than bulk Valpolicella grapes.

  4. 04

    A family house farming its own vineyards

    Cost down

    Tommasi Family Estates, based in Pedemonte, owns the vineyards this wine comes from, so it is not paying market prices for grapes. It sells this Amarone at €36.90 from its own shop, well under the £55.25 UK shelf price.

  5. 05

    UK VAT and alcohol duty

    Cost up

    On £55.25, VAT is £9.21 and duty on a 15% wine is roughly £3.30, so about £12.50 of the price goes to HMRC before Vinissimus takes a margin.

01

Three months drying the grapes before pressing

Cost up

Tommasi dries hand-picked grapes for about three months on racks in a ventilated loft, the appassimento step that makes Amarone. The grapes lose weight as they dry, so each bottle needs far more fruit than a Valpolicella.

Perfect Pairings

Dishes that go with this wine

Radicchio risotto, plated

Radicchio risotto
Venison Stew, plated

Venison Stew
Food Pairing

Dried-fruit richness, 15% and silky tannin: dishes that fit Tommasi's Amarone

Tommasi's own list is game, red meat and mature cheese. The prune and chocolate notes from the drying suit slow-cooked meat, and the 15% alcohol needs a plate with real weight.

Body matching Strong match

Game, venison and slow-cooked lamb

A 15% Amarone with dried-fruit richness matches strong, dark meat weight for weight. Game is first on Tommasi's own list, and the prune and chocolate notes from the drying make venison or slow-cooked mutton taste sweeter.

Try with: Venison Stew · Spezzatino di pecora · Ossobuco alla Milanese · Porceddu · More pairings →

Tannin softening Strong match

Rich braises and roast beef

The silky tannin from three years in big casks grips the protein in a braise and turns softer still, while the meat's juices lift the black cherry fruit. A beef stew or a Sunday roast gives the wine the weight it needs.

Try with: Brasato al Barolo · Sunday Roast Beef · Lamb shank · Beef stew · More pairings →

Salt balance Good match

Mature hard cheeses

Salt and the crunchy crystals in an aged cheese soften the tannin and make the dried-fruit sweetness show. Tommasi names mature cheese as a match, and an aged pecorino or a sharp cheddar both work.

Try with: Frico · Pecorino sardo e pan carasau · Strong cheddar cheese · More pairings →

Aromatic bridge Good match

Roast duck and festive birds

The raisin, fig and spice notes that come from drying the grapes echo the fruit and spice served with roast duck or a Christmas bird. The wine's 15% warmth suits a cold-weather table.

Try with: Roast Duck · Peking duck · Roast turkey

Fat cutting Good match

Polenta, mushrooms and buttery northern dishes

Amarone comes from polenta country, and the wine's alcohol and tannin clear butter and melted cheese between mouthfuls. Porcini pick up the earthy, smoky notes drinkers mention.

Try with: Polenta alla Valdostana · Porcini mushroom risotto · Pizzoccheri · More pairings →

Avoid Clash

Light fish, salads and very hot or very sweet dishes

A 15% red with prune and chocolate flattens raw fish and a fresh salad, which want a crisp white like Soave. Hot chilli makes the alcohol burn, and a sweet pudding leaves this dry Amarone tasting bitter.

Skip with: Sashimi · Insalata Caprese · Chicken madras · Sticky Toffee Pudding · Pairing guide →

Drinking + cellar

Cellaring Tommasi Amarone: decades if you want them

Tommasi suggests buying more than one bottle for a vertical tasting. Drinkers still love the 1981 and the 1999, so this Amarone clearly lasts. Expect the 2021 to drink well to 2040.

Drinking window
2026 → 2040

Peak around 2032. Best in the years above; holds without falling over either side.

Decanting
30 minutes

A short splash decant softens the first-pour edge and opens the aromatics.

Serving temperature
16-18°C

Aim for the cooler end on a warm day; warmer end opens up more aromatics.

Cellar potential
High

Three years in cask, 15% alcohol and a track record back to 1981, a vintage drinkers still love, make this a wine that keeps for decades.

Buy now or wait?
Buy now

£42.94 for a 75cl bottle of the 2021, at Vinissimus, is the best price we track, and we have no signal of further discounting.

Sources & trust

Sources behind this Tommasi Amarone page

Prices & stock

Read directly from each retailer’s public product page once a day. Last refresh: 8 Oct 2026, 03:24 BST. We do not hold stock and we do not accept payment for placement.

Confidence · High
Tasting notes

Drawn from what drinkers consistently report on Vivino and Wine-Searcher, summarised in our own words. A crowd read across many tasters, not a single critic.

Confidence · Medium
Appellation rules & ageing

From the official Italian disciplinare for this denomination, cross-checked against the Ministry of Agriculture register.

Confidence · High
Why it costs what it costs

Our reading of the price, drawn from the disciplinare, public UK duty rates, and typical landed-cost benchmarks. Not a quote from the producer or a retailer.

Confidence · Medium
Drink window & cellar potential

Style guidance for this kind of wine at this price point. Treat it as advice, not a forecast for the bottle in your hand.

Confidence · Medium
Related

Tommasi, Amarone della Valpolicella and Corvina: linked pages

Producer
Tommasi Viticoltori Veneto
Grapes
Corvina Corvinone Rondinella
Denomination
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
Region
Veneto Region guide
Cuisine
British Cuisine 1 dishes paired Italian Cuisine 1 dishes paired

Common Questions

Yes, and one of the most popular Amarones with drinkers, who love it year after year. James Suckling gave the 2018 94 points, and the 2017 scored 91 with a second leading critic. It is a traditional, balanced style rather than a heavy one.

Corvina 50%, Corvinone 30%, Rondinella 15% and Oseleta 5%, from Tommasi's La Groletta and Conca d'Oro plots in the Valpolicella Classico hills.

The grapes are picked by hand and dried for about three months on racks in a ventilated loft. They ferment for 25 days in steel, then the wine spends three years in Slavonian oak casks. It is bottled at 15%.

It is £55.25 at Vinissimus for the 2021, and Tommasi sells it for €36.90 at the winery. A three-litre bottle in a wooden box is £231 on offer at vino.com. Prices on this page update as UK retailers change them.

Decades: drinkers still love the 1981. The 2021 drinks well from 2026 and should improve to around 2032, holding to 2040.

Game, slow-cooked red meat and mature cheese, which is Tommasi's own list. Venison stew, ossobuco and a hard aged cheese all work. Avoid light fish and hot spice.

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Tommasi Viticoltori Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
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