produced in the best vintages

 

Amarone Riserva Leone Zardini

"I have never stopped believing that Amarone is one of the most important wines in the world, and no one will ever convince me otherwise!"

the wine

The pursuit of quality, creating new wines, experimenting with new and ancient techniques.

I have never stopped believing that Amarone is one of the most important wines in the world, and no one will ever convince me otherwise! Certainly because of its undisputed quality, the difficulty of producing it, and because it is born after a long drying process of the grapes, a centuries-old practice that amplifies every sensation both on the nose and on the palate. The pursuit of quality, creating new wines, experimenting with new and ancient techniques, has always burned strongly within me. In 2003, the desire to produce a new Amarone was born, a Riserva, more complex, richer, yet at the same time traditional, therefore very elegant and refined, produced in small quantities, as a great Amarone should be. I leave the modern version, made like a Bordeaux, to others.
technical sheet Amarone Leone Zardini

The Riserva project.

 
Produced in the best vintages. Grapes from highly suited vineyards: Monte Mattonara in San Floriano, Valfiorita Negrar. Vines personally cultivated, using my own techniques and respecting Nature as much as possible. Natural withering without air conditioners to increase the breadth and importance of the wine. Vinified in wooden vats with manual punch-downs. Pressed with an old manual press. Aged for many years in large barrels and five-hectolitre casks. Usually bottled one year before release.

The birth.

The 2003 vintage proved to be extremely hot, during which the hillside grapes suffered. The 2004 vintage did not convince me, as the weather conditions in my vineyards had not been ideal for grape ripening. In 2005 I managed to obtain an excellent product, despite the vintage not being exceptional. After a full six years of ageing from vinification, in 2012 the Amarone Riserva Leone Zardini was finally released.
An exciting Amarone, 16 degrees of harmony, a fullness that never tires, an intense Valpolicella signature that returns to its true soul. A wine that intimately holds my story and that of my family. I dedicated it to my father Leone, now in his eighties, a man of great strength, still the stern guardian of our small winery and a cheerful host to the customers who come to visit us. The label shows him in a photo from as far back as 1956, beside his faithful Landini Testa Calda tractor. My father Leone Zardini passed away on 8/6/2017 at his home in San Floriano, surrounded by the love of his family, above his winery.

recognitions

The awards.

 

2019 vintage

  • Tre Bicchieri - Gambero Rosso 2026
  • 5 Grappoli - Guida Bibenda 2026
  • 4 Stelle - Vini Buoni d'Italia Touring Club Italiano 2026
  • Gold Medal - Mundus Vini 2025

2018 vintage

  • 5 Grappoli - Guida Bibenda 2025
  • Gold Medal - Mundus Vini 2024
  • Gold Medal - The Wine Hunter Award 2024 Merano Wine Festival
  • 4 stelle - Vini Buoni d'Italia Tourin Club Italiano 2024
  • 96/100 - Annuario dei Migliori Vini Italiani 2025 L. Maroni

2017 vintage

  • Tre Bicchieri - Gambero Rosso 2024
  • 5 Grappoli - Guida Bibenda 2024
  • 4 Stelle - Vini Buoni d'Italia Touring Club Italiano 2024
  • Gold Medal - Mundus Vini 2024

2016 vintage

  • 5 Grappoli - Guida Bibenda 2023
  • Gold Medal - Mundus Vini 2022
  • Gold Medal - The Wine Hunter Award 2022 Merano Wine Festival
  • 4 stelle - Vini Buoni d'Italia Tourin Club Italiano 2023
  • 94/100 - Guida Oro Veronelli 2023
  • 94/100 - Annuario dei Migliori Vini Italiani 2023 L. Maroni

2015 vintage

  • 5 Grappoli - Guida Bibenda 2022
  • Gold Medal - Mundus Vini 2021
  • Gold Medal - The Wine Hunter Award 2021 Merano Wine Festival
  • 4 stelle - Vini Buoni d'Italia Tourin Club Italiano 2022
  • 93/100 - Guida Oro Veronelli 2022
  • 95/100 - Annuario dei Migliori Vini Italiani 2022 L. Maroni

2013 vintage

  • Tre Bicchieri - Gambero Rosso 2021
  • 5 Grappoli - Guida Bibenda 2021
  • 4 Stelle - Vini Buoni d'Italia Touring Club Italiano 2021
  • 92/100 - Guida Oro Veronelli 2021
  • 4 Viti - Guida Vitae 2021
  • 94/100 - Annuario dei Miglior Vini Italiani 2021 L. Maroni

2012 vintage

  • Tre Bicchieri - Gambero Rosso 2020
  • 5 Grappoli - Guida Bibenda 2020Corona- Buoni vini d'Italia 2020
  • Corona del Pubblico- Buoni vini d'Italia 2020
  • Gold Medal 95 pts - Decanter Asia
  • Gold Medal - Mundus Vini 2019
  • Gold metal - Wine Hunter Merano wine festival

2011 vintage

  • Tre Bicchieri - Gambero Rosso 2019
  • 5 Grappoli - Guida Bibenda 2019
  • 93 pts - Annuario dei Migliori Vini Italiani 2019 L. Maroni
  • Gold Medal - Mundus Vini 2018
  • Diploma di Merito - Verona Wine Top 2018

2010 vintage

  • Silver Medal - Decanter Wine Awards 2018
  • 93 pts - Concorso Vinitaly "5 Stars Wines" 2018
  • 5 Grappoli - Guida Bibenda 2018
  • Gold Medal - Mundus Vini 2017
  • 4 Rosoni Ais Veneto - Vinetia 2018
  • Silver Medal - Decanter Asia 2018
  • Diploma di Merito - Verona Wine Top 2017
  • 91 pts - Annuario dei Migliori Vini Italiani 2018 L. Maroni
  • 92 pts - Guida Oro Luigi Veronelli 2018

2009 vintage

  • 91 pts - Decanter 2017
  • Diploma di Merito - Verona Wine Top 2016
  • Gold Medal - Mundus Vini 2016
  • 91 pts - Annuario dei Migliori Vini Italiani 2017 L. Maroni
  • 92 pts - Guida Oro Luigi Veronelli 2017
  • 90 pts - Wine Enthusiast

2008 vintage

  • 90 pts - Wine Enthusiast
  • Gold Medal - Mundus Vini 2014
  • Bronze Medal - Hong Kong Wine & Spirit Competition 2014
  • 91 pts - Decanter
  • 90 pts - Annuario dei Migliori Vini Italiani 2016 L. Maroni
  • 92 pts - Guida Oro Luigi Veronelli 2015

2005 vintage

  • The Best red Wine in Europe - Mundus Vini 2012
  • Grosses Gold Medal - Mundus Vini 2012
  • 91 pts - Wine Enthusiast
  • 4 stelle - Vini Buoni d'Italia
  • 92 pts - Guida Oro Luigi Veronelli 2014
  • 91 pts - Wine Enthusiast