Over the first 10 months of 2021, producers of all styles of Valpolicella have been busily bottling more wine than usual in the expectation of big sales and a 2021 harvest that will be of high quality but smaller than in 2020
Local data show that seven percent more basic Valpolicella was bottled in the first 10 months of 2021 compared to the same period last year. Bottling of Ripasso and Amarone increased by 14.7 percent and a whopping 30.2 percent respectively. Sales of some of these bottles led to a huge, 100,000 hl reduction in the amount of wine in producers’ cellars,
Bulk prices also rose, with Ripasso commanding 13 percent more than in 2020 and Amarone selling for 20 percent more. Readers who are surprised to learn of the existence of bulk Amarone may find it worth visiting the World Bulk Wine Exhibition in Amsterdam. But they should not expect to find much it on offer.
