red grape · regional staple
Rondinella
Veneto, Italy
Say it
ron·dee·nel·lah
From rondine (swallow, the bird); stress falls on the third syllable
On the palate
Body
light medium
Acidity
medium plus
Tannin
medium minus
Aromatics
medium
red cherrystrawberryraspberryvioletblackberryalmond
How you spot it blind: bitter almond finish; thick skins excel in appassimento drying for Amarone
The story
First written down · 1882, Veneto ampelographic literature
DNA profiling (2005–2006) established Corvina Veronese as a parent of Rondinella, making the dominant Valpolicella variety the genetic ancestor of its ostensibly lesser blending partner.
Where it lives
Valpolicella DOC · Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG · Bardolino DOC · Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG
Shows up as
still redAmarone della ValpolicellaRecioto della ValpolicellaBardolino