Harvest 2025 in Valpolicella: What to Expect from Ugolini Vini's New Vintage

The end of summer in Valpolicella has a special atmosphere. In the vineyards, winemakers’ hands return to the rows, baskets fill with bunches, and the air becomes scented with the perfume of ripe grapes. It's the harvest, an ancient ritual that has been repeated for centuries and continues to mark the profound connection between humans and nature.

For Ugolini Vini, September 2025 marks an important milestone: the thirty-first harvest. “Time passes for us too, but the rewards are endless,” says Giambattista Ugolini, the company's founder.

The “Hill of Flavors”: An Unrepeatable Microclimate

At the heart of Ugolini’s 2025 harvest are the vineyards, unique places not only for their position but also for the 12 km of dry-stone walls that run through them. These ancient walls, a UNESCO World Heritage site, absorb the sun's heat during the day and release it to the vines at night, creating an ideal microclimate for even maturation.

This balance is what gives rise to Ugolini's prestigious wines:

• Pozzetto: a Valpolicella Classico DOC that expresses the immediacy of the territory: fragrant, light, perfect for a tasting in the cellar or for accompanying daily moments with elegance and simplicity;

• San Michele: elegant and refined, a Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOC that tells the very soul of the valley, combining elegance and intensity;

• Monte Solane:a deep, enveloping Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso DOC with great personality and extraordinary aromatic persistence;

• Valle Alta: the undisputed symbol of Valpolicella wineries, Amarone Valle Alta represents power, harmony, and finesse. Born from the traditional Appassimento method, this Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG captivates with its aromatic richness and elegant character, ideal for those who want to have a memorable tasting;

• Valle Lena: measured sweetness, freshness, and intense aromas blend in perfect balance in this Recioto della Valpolicella Classico DOCG, making it the ideal wine for those seeking an authentic tasting experience in the Valpolicella cellars;

• San Michele della Chiesa: produced only in the best vintages, San Michele della Chiesa is a Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOC of great character and complexity, ideal for those who want to have a memorable tasting.

2025 Harvest: Vintage Forecasts

This year’s climatic conditions give great hope. After a steady spring and a warm start to summer, the July rains rebalanced the climate, preventing stress on the vines.

The not-too-hot summer, with cool, ventilated nights, has favored the maturation of the grapes, preserving acidity and aromas. All of this points to a high-quality 2025 harvest: healthy grapes, intense aromas, and wines destined for a long life. Amarone, Ripasso, and Valpolicella Classico promise balance and complexity, combining freshness and power.

Appassimento: The Heart of Ugolini's Tradition

For Ugolini Vini, the 2025 harvest also brings with it the continuation of a ritual with ancient roots: Appassimento.

The selected bunches of grapes are harvested by hand in the vineyards and left to rest for a long time in the fruttaio (drying loft). This step concentrates aromas, perfumes, and colors, preparing the raw material for great wines.

It is thanks to this practice that two pillars of the Ugolini cellar are born:

• Recioto Valle Lena, sweet, enveloping, and perfect for special moments.

• Amarone Valle Alta, its noble sibling, where richness transforms into complexity and structure, a symbol of the most prestigious Valpolicella wineries.

Villa San Michele: A Gem Among Wineries to Visit in Valpolicella

Those looking for wineries to visit in Valpolicella will find a symbolic place in Villa San Michele: a 12th-century building, restored by the Ugolini family, that today opens to enthusiasts as a true sanctuary of wine.

Here, a Valpolicella wine tasting is not just a sip; it’s an immersive experience, made of silence, panoramic views, and glasses that tell the story of a territory that is unique in the world.

An Invitation to Experience Valpolicella Through Wine

The 2025 harvest will be an unforgettable moment, and there is no better way to celebrate it than to sit on the terrace of Villa San Michele, with your gaze embracing the hills and a glass that holds the echo of the land.

Visiting Valpolicella wineries means immersing yourself in a thousand-year-old culture, made of ancient gestures and passion. Ugolini Vini invites you to discover this magic through its wine tours [internal link]: journeys that combine history, nature, and tasting.

Book your visit to Villa San Michele and let the wine guide you to the most authentic essence of Valpolicella.