Tasting Amarone with Sandro Boscaini: A Celebration of Time, Wine, and Love

A Toast to Love and Legacy

Wine, like love, thrives on time. At an exclusive wine lunch with Sandro Boscaini, guests explored Amarone’s magic and Italy’s winemaking passion. The event, held at MC Kitchen in Miami, honored Boscaini’s recent Wine Enthusiast Lifetime Achievement Award. It also celebrated the rich history of Serego Alighieri’s estate in Valpolicella.

Sandro Boscaini, President of Masi Agricola © Lisa Morales

Hosted by Sandro Boscaini, President of Masi Agricola, the intimate gathering welcomed key figures in the wine industry. Notable attendees included Federico Girotto, CEO of Masi Agricola; Anthony Apostolakos, U.S. Director of Masi Agricola; and Chris Birnie-Visscher of Vineyard Brands. Media, wine buyers, sommeliers, and select retailers also attended.

Serego Alighieri: A Legacy Rooted in Dante’s Lineage

The name Serego Alighieri carries the weight of poetic and vinicultural greatness. The estate, owned by Dante Alighieri’s descendants since 1353, has been a beacon of tradition and excellence. Today, Masi Agricola owns and collaborates closely with the Serego Alighieri estate. This partnership ensures its centuries-old winemaking traditions continue to flourish.

The family’s commitment to preserving heritage is exemplified by Massimilla di Serego Alighieri, the 21st-generation steward. She ensures the land and its stories continue to thrive.

As Sandro Boscaini guided guests through the wines, he wove in reflections on time, terroir, and appassimento. This process defines Amarone della Valpolicella. “Time doesn’t just create concentration,” he noted in The Magic of Time: 250 Years of Masi podcast. “It transforms aromas, flavors, and the very soul of the wine.” (Watch the full podcast here).

A Tasting of Time

Each wine was paired with a carefully selected dish. The selection showcased the depth and complexity that only time can achieve:

  • Serego Alighieri Possessioni Bianco 2022 – A blend of Garganega and Sauvignon Blanc, this Venetian white is bright and elegant. It displays aromas of pears with floral hints. The palate balances fruit and minerality, finishing with an almondy twist.
  • Serego Alighieri Montepiazzo Valpolicella 2020 – This full-bodied red is crafted from Corvina, Rondinella, and the Serego Alighieri clone of Molinara. It boasts a deep ruby hue with aromas of marasca cherries, vanilla, and cinnamon. The palate is fruit-laden, with structured acidity and tannins. It finishes long and elegant.
  • Serego Alighieri Vaio Armaron Amarone – The icon wine of the Serego Alighieri estate, this Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG showcases power and complexity. Made with Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara grapes, it is aged in cherry-wood casks. Deep ruby red in color, it exudes aromas of dried plums, cocoa, and spices. The palate is well-structured, with silky tannins and a long, fruit-driven finish. (We tasted 5 vintages: 1988, 1990, 1993, 2006, 2015. The 1988 and 1990 were my favorites!)
  • Serego Alighieri Casal dei Ronchi Recioto 2018 – A noble sweet wine rooted in tradition. This Recioto della Valpolicella Classico DOCG is crafted using Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara, laid out on bamboo racks to dry. The result is a highly aromatic wine with deep notes of cherries preserved in spirit, walnuts, and plum jam. Elegant tannins enhance the experience. It pairs perfectly with desserts like millefeuille, panettone, and country-style tarts. Blue cheeses like Gorgonzola also complement its flavors.

The Art of Appassimento: Time’s Magic Touch

appassimento - grapes drying on racks Valpolicella
Courtesy Photo Serego Alighieri

At the heart of Amarone lies appassimento. This meticulous process allows Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara grapes to dry for months. It concentrates sugars and flavors before fermentation. The result is a wine of extraordinary richness, often called the “gentle giant” for its power wrapped in elegance.

This ancient method fosters a slow dehydration process that intensifies aromas of ripe cherries, figs, and spice. Fermentation takes longer than in most wines. This creates Amarone’s full-bodied, velvety profile with lingering warmth and complexity.

“Wine experts, including Jancis Robinson, have acknowledged Amarone’s remarkable ability to age and develop complex flavors. Its structure and appassimento process allow it to evolve beautifully over decades, developing layered flavors that make it one of Italy’s most age-worthy wines.

Serego Alighieri Estate gates
Courtesy Photo Serego Alighieri

For those who seek to immerse themselves in the history and flavors of Valpolicella, the Serego Alighieri estate offers a unique travel experience. Guests can stay at the Foresteria, take guided tastings, and explore vineyards with over six centuries of winemaking tradition.

Masi Agricola, known for its expertise in appassimento, extends the journey beyond the vineyard. The Masi Wine Experience, available in various locations and even at home, allows wine lovers to savor Amarone wherever they are. The Masi Wine Experience offers educational tastings, wine pairings, and immersive vineyard tours. Every visitor gains a deep understanding of the heritage behind each bottle.

A Celebration of Time, Love, and Italy

As the lunch concluded, the theme of time and love lingered in the air. Just as Dante immortalized his love for Beatrice in his poetry, the Serego Alighieri estate and Masi Agricola continue to honor their devotion to the land and to the art of winemaking.

In a world that moves ever faster, wine reminds us to slow down. We should savor each moment. We should celebrate the love and labor that shape each bottle.

“L’amor che move il sole e l’altre stelle.”
(The love that moves the sun and the other stars.)Paradiso, Canto XXXIII

Because true love—like great wine—only deepens with time.


Thank you Vineyard Brands for the invitation and MC Kitchen, the location host, for a delicious lunch with exceptional service!

Lisa Morales

Editor-in-Chief

Based in Miami, I am the Editor-in-Chief for Live in Italy Magazine. I am a member of the International Food Wine Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and contributor to internationally recognized art; food and wine; and travel publications. In my free time, I love to cook and bake; take photographs; go for nature walks; and run on the beach. I am WSET 2 Certified and working on the CSW. I look forward to getting to know you! Follow Us @LiveInItalyMag 🇮🇹.

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