The masterclass “Amarone: Time, the Dining Room, the Choice,” organized by Famiglie Storiche for Vinitaly 2026 and led by Roberto Anesi, Best Sommelier of Italy 2017.
With this initiative, Famiglie Storiche renews its commitment to promoting Amarone della Valpolicella, promoting a wine culture that combines territorial heritage and a contemporary vision, in the name of quality and authenticity.
Time as a key to understanding, the dining room as a place of interpretation, and choice as a conscious gesture: these are the cornerstones around which the masterclass organized by Famiglie Storiche for Vinitaly 2026 was developed, entitled “Amarone: time, the dining room, the choice – Stylistic evolution and gastronomic versatility of Amarone through the comparison of vintages, balance, precision, and dialogue with the table”.
The event, held on Tuesday 14 April, saw the qualified participation of Ho.Re.Ca. operators, sommeliers and trade press , confirming the association’s central role in promoting a contemporary interpretation of Amarone della Valpolicella.
Amarone is not a wine frozen in time, but a language that evolves. Today, the challenge is no longer explaining what it is, but how to present it in a contemporary way: in its versatility, stylistic precision, and its natural vocation at the table. Time, service, and choice become decisive levers to make it more accessible and relevant in the restaurant industry. Comparing vintages allows us to convey a solid and recognizable identity, which evolves in the way it is interpreted and presented. The Famiglie Storiche embody this shared vision: preserving the identity of Amarone and, at the same time, guiding its evolution,” says Pierangelo Tommasi, president of the Associazione Famiglie Storiche .
Leading the tasting was Roberto Anesi , Best Sommelier of Italy 2017, who guided participants through an in-depth journey built on a comparison of three vintages—2012, 2016, and 2021—through thirteen interpretations of Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG and Riserva , one from each associated family. “Amarone is often automatically associated with richly structured dishes, but today it’s interesting to break out of these patterns and discover new possibilities. During the masterclass, we explored less conventional pairings, from fatty fish like salmon to hints of Asian cuisine, demonstrating that there is plenty of room for experimentation. The interpretations of the Historic Families, while remaining faithful to a classic style, always manage to surprise with their ability to dialogue with the table. The invitation is to rediscover Amarone from a gastronomic perspective, going beyond the most traditional pairings and opening up to perspectives that until recently would have been unthinkable,” commented Anesi.
During the meeting, sensory analysis was intertwined with reflections on service and pairing, offering those in attendance concrete tools to promote Amarone on the menu and in the dining room. This approach underscores the association’s desire to engage more directly with the restaurant industry, strengthening Amarone’s positioning as a highly contemporary wine.
By comparing vintages and styles, the masterclass reaffirmed how Amarone today is a wine capable of expressing balance, precision, and depth, maintaining its identity intact while opening up to new opportunities for consumption and interpretation.
HISTORICAL FAMILIES
Founded in 2009, the Associazione Famiglie Storiche (Historical Families Association) today brings together thirteen prestigious Valpolicella wineries, each custodian of centuries-old traditions and a production vision focused on quality and the authenticity of the terroir. The member companies are: Allegrini, Begali, Bertani, Brigaldara, Guerrieri Rizzardi, Masi, Musella, Speri, Tedeschi, Tenuta Sant’Antonio, Tommasi, Torre D’Orti, and Zenato.
The companies belonging to Historic Families, who together capitalize on a heritage consolidated by each over time and an unwavering commitment to quality to bear witness to this great wine that is Amarone, are all rooted in the values of history and craftsmanship, expressed in every sense.
Historic Families represents:
History : All the member companies have been part of the Valpolicella region for many years and are deeply rooted in it.
Passion : before being winemakers, they are custodians of the land.
Project : they are created with the specific aim of testifying to the values of a territory and a denomination that are unique in the world.