Amarone has an ancient history. Appassimento, the delicate act of drying grapes which is fundamental to the style, has been in practice since Roman times, and the wine is a proud part of Venetian culture. But Amarone is also a modern creation. The big, rich, red wine was first internationally marketed in its current dry form in the mid-twentieth century. What twenty-first century wine lovers around the world know and cherish as Amarone is a product of age-old technique, modern science, and a few visionaries, primary among them, Sandro Boscaini. Acclaimed wine writer Kate Singleton tells of Amarone s rise to global distinction through the recollections of Sandro Boscaini, founder and president of Masi Agricola, from his earliest memories of sleeping a floor below newly harvest grapes drying on racks in the attic to convincing the editors of Wine Spectator to perform and publish the magazine s first Amarone tasting. To fully appreciate Amarone one must know the history of the Valpolicella and the Venetian Republic, a legacy which Singleton conveys in a rousing narrative. Also, Sandro Boscaini lovingly details the development of his technique, the special nature of the terrain and his connection to it, and the necessary elements that make a world class Amarone. Amarone is a passionate account of this unique wine, the place and people where it is grown and made, and the pleasure in sharing it with the rest of the world.