Amarone della Valpolicella: The King of Wines & the Hunt for Authentic Neapolitan Pizza
I was craving pizza the other day. And not just any pizza…
I’m talking about pizza that tastes like it actually came from Italy, not from a shopping center parking lot that smells like Axe body spray and regret. The kind of pizza that whispers “ciao” to your soul.
Now, I know I’m not going to find a carbon copy of Italian pizza in the land of Hot Chicken and bachelorette party pedal taverns. But I did find a hidden gem of a Neapolitan pizzeria—DeSano Pizzeria in Nashville.
DeSano makes pizza in the Naples tradition—“Tradizionale di Napoli”—with flour flown in weekly from Naples, Italy. And yes, they follow the official rules of the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN) like pizza priests in a doughy cult.
Which means: NO trendy toppings for you. That’s right—no pineapple, no “truffle oil drizzle,” and definitely no spicy meatball monstrosities.
This style of pizza sticks to the sacred basics: a simple dough using Napoli flour, San Marzano tomatoes, Mozzarella di Bufala Campana (made from actual water buffaloes, not your imagination), fresh basil, and olive oil. Then it’s flash-blasted in a wood-burning oven like it owes the chef money.
And honestly? That’s all you need. Your grandma didn’t have 42 pizza apps. She just had taste. So you’ll survive. Trust me.
There’s a reason Neapolitan pizza is on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage—because flavor is forever.
Does Amarone della Valpolicella Go With Neapolitan Pizza?
So, there I was. Holding our pizza like it was a newborn baby and absolutely refusing to put it in the backseat. Mr. W&D was zipping along the freeway like we were late to a wedding in Positano, and I needed that pizza safe. My thighs were on fire, but I told myself it was a “lap warmer.”
Naturally, I needed the right wine. Enter: Amarone della Valpolicella.
I had just picked up a bottle of Ca’ Storica Amarone della Valpolicella 2020 at Trader Joe’s, and it was calling my name like a velvet-voiced Italian lover from Veneto.
Then I laughed out loud.
Mr. W&D asked what was so funny, but he didn’t get the joke. (No one ever does.)
See, Amarone comes from Veneto, in northern Italy near the Alps, where you’ll find polenta, risotto, tiramisu, Aperol spritzes, and people who wear scarves unironically.
Napoli, where our sacred pizza originates, is seven hours south—where carbs flow freely and scooters outnumber common sense.
These regions are as different as a tuxedo and a tank top. But somehow, Amarone + Pizza = Magic. It slices through that gooey mozzarella and bright tomato with elegance and power. Like a velvet axe.
Why Is Amarone Wine So Expensive?
Amarone (“a-mah-ROH-nay”) isn’t your everyday Wednesday wine. This is the stuff of emperors and popes who weren’t watching their budget.
A decent bottle of Amarone usually runs $40-$90, though fancier versions can climb to $300+—aka “hide it from your guests” wine.
And why the price tag?
Because Amarone is made from semi-dried grapes, harvested late (mid-October-ish) and laid out on straw mats to dry—like little grape mummies in a flavor spa. This process, called “appassimento,” dehydrates the grapes by up to 40%, concentrating their sugars and flavors like nature’s own shrink ray.
This is what gives Amarone its 15–16% alcohol content and that bold, luxurious flavor. It’s not for your boxed-wine-in-a-hot-tub crowd.
Ca’ Storica Amarone della Valpolicella 2020 – A Gem Hidden In Plain Sight
So when I saw Ca’ Storica Amarone della Valpolicella 2020 ($16!!) at Trader Joe’s, I clutched it like I’d just found the last Rosetta Stone on clearance.
Made from Corvina, Molinara, and Rondinella grapes, and aged in oak for at least six months, this bottle is a total sleeper hit.
Here’s a crash course on Amarone hierarchy:
- Level 1: Valpolicella Classico (young, light & bright)
- Level 2: Valpolicella Superiore (medium)
- Level 3: Valpolicella Ripasso (rich, spicy)
- Level 4: Amarone della Valpolicella (bold, complex)
- Level 5: Recioto della Valpolicella (sweet dessert wine, impossible to find, probably guarded by dragons)
Fun fact: “Amarone” literally means “the Great Bitter,” originally to contrast it from its sweeter sibling, Recioto.
My 2020 bottle (14% ABV) was medium-bodied with a garnet hue and packed with maraschino cherry, blueberry, cocoa powder, cassis, and just a hint of dried fig and Maduro cigar wrapper.
Give it at least an hour to breathe, or decant if you’re fancy. It’ll open up like a dramatic Italian opera singer—gripping, emotional, and a little leathery.
What Food Pairs Well With Amarone Wine?
Historically, Amarone was paired with donkey stew. No, I’m not kidding. Italians really said “this wine is delicious, bring me a donkey.”
But luckily for the rest of us, you can pair Amarone with actual food you’ll eat in public.
The Ultimate Wine & Pizza Pairing Guide
Not sure what wine to pair with your pizza style? Don’t worry—I made this handy guide to keep your slice-and-sip situation fully optimized.
Pizza and wine were meant to be together—like mozzarella and tomato, or you and that pizza box on the couch.
Whether you’re team Margherita or team Meat Lover, here’s a quick visual guide to help you pair every slice with the perfect wine.
Spoiler: Lambrusco goes with everything and Amarone is still a show-off.
📌 Pin this image for your next pizza night.
Try Amarone wine with:
- Roasted lamb or venison
- Porterhouse steak
- Braised beef or pot roast
- Blue cheese
- Neapolitan pizza, obviously
- Lasagna Bolognese
- Mushrooms, grilled veggies
- Even certain spicy Asian dishes
Basically, if it’s rich, bold, or meaty, Amarone is ready to roll up its sleeves and dive in.
Final Verdict
Ca’ Storica Amarone della Valpolicella 2020 is 100% Wine & Drama approved. It’s bold, complex, and a ridiculous value for $16. Go to Trader Joe’s, grab a bottle (or three), and prepare to be a person who drinks Amarone on a Tuesday like it’s your birthright.
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella
Vintage: 2020
Price: $16
