Valpolicella is choosing the path of quality and denomination enhancement. This is the key message emerging from the sixth edition of the Valpolicella Annual Report, presented in Venice by the Consorzio Tutela Vini Valpolicella. With 57.5 million bottles bottled in 2025, a consolidated presence in 87 countries, and an intensive programme of international promotion, Veneto’s leading red wine denomination is navigating a phase of production normalisation by prioritising value over volume growth.
Valpolicella: A Stable Territory with a Strong Identity
The picture of the denomination reveals a solid and well-structured wine system spread across 19 municipalities and 11 valleys.
The Valpolicella vineyard area remains stable at 8,614 hectares, supported by a supply chain comprising more than 2,200 companies including growers, winemakers and bottlers. Verona confirms its leadership in vineyard area with 15%, followed by Negrar and San Pietro in Cariano, both at 13%, and Illasi at 11%. Together, these four areas account for 52% of the denomination’s vineyard surface.
From a varietal standpoint, strong consistency with tradition emerges. Corvina represents 56% of the registered vineyard area, while Rondinella and Corvinone each account for 19%. Molinara continues to occupy a 2% share, maintaining its role within the local ampelographic heritage.
Production Declines, but the Denomination Looks Beyond the Numbers
In 2025, production reached 840,510 quintals of grapes, of which 327,545 quintals were destined for the drying process (appassimento), bringing volumes back to levels recorded in 2016.
The denomination’s bottled production reached almost 57.5 million bottles, recording a 3% decline compared to 2024. The decrease affected all the principal product categories.
Amarone and Recioto totalled 13.58 million bottles, down 2.4%. Valpolicella Ripasso reached 27.37 million bottles, marking a decline of 3.7%, while Valpolicella DOC fell to 16.50 million bottles, down 2.7%.
According to the Consortium, these figures should not be interpreted as a signal of weakness, but rather as the reflection of a natural market normalisation and a strategy aimed at preserving the value of the denomination.
Marchesini (President of the Valpolicella Wine Consortium): “Our Task Is Not to Chase Volumes”
The future direction of the denomination was outlined by Christian Marchesini, President of the Consorzio Tutela Vini Valpolicella.
“The current international environment requires an even greater sense of responsibility. Our task is not to chase volumes, but to preserve the value of the denomination. We are committed to managing production in a balanced way and investing in promotion in order to strengthen the competitiveness of our companies and consolidate the role of Valpolicella wines within the national and international wine landscape. This is a challenge that the Consortium and the companies are facing together, with a long-term vision.”
Internationalisation continues to be one of the pillars of Valpolicella’s strategy.
Over the past year, the Consortium carried out 27 activities in 16 countries across five continents: Argentina, Australia, South Korea, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Poland, Serbia, Singapore, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.
This activity helps sustain a commercial presence that is now firmly established in 87 international markets, strengthening the global positioning of Amarone, Ripasso and Valpolicella wines.
Valpolicella: The Challenge of Wine Tourism and the UNESCO Candidacy
Among the themes addressed during the meeting was the growing role of wine culture as a tool for territorial promotion.
Regional councillor Alberto Bozza highlighted the value of the work carried out by the Consortium and the importance of initiatives dedicated to enhancing Valpolicella’s identity.
Referring to “the important work carried out by the Valpolicella Consortium in protecting the territory and the quality of its wines,” he added that:
“The report presented certifies the strength of the denomination. Valpolicella wines are versatile and universal, and today an important cultural initiative is also underway to tell the story of the territory and strengthen wine tourism, because wine is not only taste and sensory pleasure but also experience, culture and territory.”
Bozza also underlined the challenges linked to the international geopolitical and commercial landscape, stressing the need for coordinated action between institutions and the productive sector to support exports.
Finally, he recalled “the challenge of achieving UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status for the ritual of resting the Valpolicella grapes.”
A Diversified Supply Chain That Continues to Create Value
Among the elements analysed in the Report is also the diversified structure of the denomination.
In smaller companies, Valpolicella DOC accounts for 40% of bottled production, while in medium-small, medium-large and large enterprises, Valpolicella Ripasso becomes the dominant category, with percentages ranging between 45% and 50%.
The share represented by Amarone and Recioto remains stable across all categories, accounting for between 19% and 26% of production portfolios. This balance highlights the supply chain’s ability to generate value through a broad and complementary offering capable of covering different market segments.
