Recioto is Valpolicella’s initial incarnation—a sweet wine that dates back to the Romans, who are credited with having developed the appassimento process (drying of the grapes). The sweetness derives from an arrested fermentation, a procedure that stops the conversion of sugar into alcohol, thereby leaving residual sugar. It is widely believed that Amarone emerged as the dry counterpart to Recioto when an unattended barrel of the latter fermented fully. For Giuseppe, like his father, the challenge of crafting Recioto represents a labor of love. Following the arrested fermentation, this wine’s vinification regimen follows the same protocol utilized for the Amarone.

"There’s not too much I can say about the 1995 Recioto other than it is a stunning, unforgettable wine. It explodes from the glass with an array of heady, exotic black cherries, graphite, roasted coffee beans and spices. Endowed with an almost port-like richness, it offers phenomenal concentration and depth on the palate without ever giving the impression of heaviness. It, too, is a remarkable wine in every way and is not to be missed. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025. One of my regrets is not having spent time with Giuseppe Quintarelli when he was in his prime. His 1983 Recioto remains one of the greatest wines I have ever tasted. Today the estate is run by Quintarelli’s numerous children and grandchildren. It’s not too hard to observe what can only be called a lack of direction, not to mention a cavalier attitude that is a clear sign of an estate that finds it easier to coast on its reputation rather than continue to strive towards excellence. While many of the current releases are outstanding, the future appears much less certain. However, the best wines are phenomenal and are likely to remain objects of desire among the world’s most well-heeled collectors. Pricing is astronomical even at the cellar door, where virtually all of the wines in this article were purchased." Parker