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Dal Forno Romano: Comparing 2017 Barrel Aging
Dal Forno Romano is a producer based in Val d’Illasi, in eastern Valpolicella. Romano Dal Forno created his first vintage in 1983 and makes Valpolicella Superiore, Amarone, and others. Here, we compare two red wines from 2017.
According to the 2017 data, Valpolicella Superiore spends longer in barrel compared to Amarone. Do not infer from the name alone; focus on duration and barrel composition.
Questions for this course
Does Amarone always undergo longer barrel aging?
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To explanation task notes ↓Dal Forno Romano / Learning from producers
Italy / Veneto / Val d'Illasi
Other names & notations: Dal Forno Romano / ダル・フォルノ・ロマーノ / ダル・フォルノ
Update date: 2026-09-25
Both wines use appassimento (dried grape) techniques
This producer uses dried grapes not only for Amarone but also for Valpolicella Superiore. Drying is a pre-fermentation process. It differs from aging in barrels, so do not explain the entire production based only on the length of either process.
In 2017, the Superiore had the longer barrel aging
In the 2017 technical section of the official booklet, Valpolicella Superiore is aged in barrel for 36 months and Amarone for 24 months. If you assume cellar time from label hierarchy, you may misread this example. The number of months is not a score but a parameter defining each wine’s style.
Barrel wood origin also varies.
Both use new barriques according to the same source: barrel wood is 70% French/30% American for the Superiore, 50% each for Amarone. Whether the barrel is new is a different axis from the origin of the oak. Store these figures as information from the 2017 description.
What to align and what to compare.
Appassimento (drying grapes)
- Conditions to standardize
- Dal Forno’s Two Red Wines
- Conditions for comparison.
- Not only Amarone, but also used for Superiore
- Additional points to confirm
- Can you confirm the dryness conditions for the applicable vintage?
Period
- Conditions to standardize
- 2017 technical data
- Conditions for comparison.
- Superiore 36 months, Amarone 24 months
- Additional points to confirm
- Are you comparing barrel aging periods?
Barrel wood material.
- Conditions to standardize
- Both use new barriques
- Conditions for comparison.
- French and American (oak) at a ratio of 70:30, or 50:50
- Additional points to confirm
- Are you confusing the proportion of barrel material with the new barrel percentage?
Order of reading and key points to consider in each article
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READ · HYPOTHESIZE · RECONSIDER
Dal Forno Romano Document Analysis: Comparing Barrel Maturation in 2017
Compare the stated conditions in the documentation. Numbers specifying vintages should be treated as information for that specific year.
This summarizes materials published by producers, regional groups, and importers. Each source includes the publisher and the date the material was checked.
| Comparison items | What can be determined from the materials | Ability to distinguish by reading |
|---|---|---|
| Common raw material processing | Both use appassimento (drying) | Separate pre-fermentation treatment from barrel aging |
| 2017 Superiore | 36 months of barrel aging, 70% French and 30% American oak. | Use of new barriques |
| 2017 Amarone | 24 months of barrel aging, 50% French and 50% American oak. | Do not equate the length of aging periods directly with the order of quality. |
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Read the explanation for each question
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Which wine had longer barrel-aging in 2017?
The official booklet states aging for Superiore is 36 months, and Amarone 24 months. If one assumes the duration from the perceived prestige of the name, the actual technical details will lead to the opposite conclusion. Aging period should be compared with specific years and labels specified.
What is the percentage of French oak used for Amarone in 2017?
For Amarone, 50% is French oak and 50% is American. This indicates the proportion of barrel wood origin, not a 50% new barrel usage. The materials separately specify that new barriques are used.
What insights can be drawn from this comparison?
This example shows that label status and barrel aging length do not follow a simple order. Other factors such as grape variety and raw material handling are also involved. Do not treat the 2017 figures as a fixed rule for other vintages.
Basis and sources for the exercise
Practice exercises in comparison
Please explain differences in raw materials and winemaking by reading the table and sources.
Read examples of organizing comparisons
| Conditions for Comparison | Comparison items | What can be determined from the materials | Ability to distinguish by reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common raw material processing | Both use appassimento (drying) | Separate pre-fermentation treatment from barrel aging | |
| 2017 Superiore | 36 months of barrel aging, 70% French and 30% American oak. | Use of new barriques | |
| 2017 Amarone | 24 months of barrel aging, 50% French and 50% American oak. | Do not equate the length of aging periods directly with the order of quality. |
Sources of materials used for comparison are listed in the text and exercises.
Explain in your own words
Please compare the two 2017 wines in terms of barrel aging period and barrel origin.
Check after writing
- The official booklet states aging for Superiore is 36 months, and Amarone 24 months. If one assumes the duration from the perceived prestige of the name, the actual technical details will lead to the opposite conclusion. Aging period should be compared with specific years and labels specified.
- For Amarone, 50% is French oak and 50% is American. This indicates the proportion of barrel wood origin, not a 50% new barrel usage. The materials separately specify that new barriques are used.
- This example shows that label status and barrel aging length do not follow a simple order. Other factors such as grape variety and raw material handling are also involved. Do not treat the 2017 figures as a fixed rule for other vintages.
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