Comparison
Amarone della Valpolicella vs Argentine Malbec
How Amarone della Valpolicella and Argentine Malbec differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: Argentine Malbec has more floral character; Amarone della Valpolicella has more sweetness; Amarone della Valpolicella has more acidity.
Choose
Amarone della Valpolicella
Choose Amarone della Valpolicella if you want something sweeter, fresher and more acidic, more tannic and structured.
Where they genuinely differ
Only differences large enough to notice in the glass are listed here. A gap of half a point on a five-point scale is noise, and WineHQ does not dress it up as a finding.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Argentine Malbec is more floral: medium-plus against low.
Sweetness
Clear differencePerceived sugar in the finished wine, driven mainly by residual sugar but modified by acidity, alcohol and fruit ripeness.
Amarone della Valpolicella is sweeter: low-medium against low.
Acidity
Clear differenceTotal perceived acidity. Rises in cooler climates and with earlier picking; falls with heat and ripeness.
Amarone della Valpolicella is fresher and more acidic: medium-plus against medium.
Tannin
Clear differencePhenolic compounds from grape skins, seeds, stems and oak. The principal structural axis of red wine.
Amarone della Valpolicella is more tannic and structured: medium-plus against medium.
Alcohol
Clear differencePerceived alcoholic strength, which tracks actual ABV but is modified by sweetness, acidity and body.
Amarone della Valpolicella is stronger and warmer: high against medium-plus.
Savoury character
Clear differenceNon-fruit, umami-adjacent character: meat, leather, olive, soy, broth, cured notes. Often increases with age.
Amarone della Valpolicella is more savoury: medium-plus against medium.
Where they are much the same
Just as useful: knowing which parts of the choice do not matter.
- Body: Similar — both high.
- Fruit intensity: Similar — both high.
- Aromatic intensity: Similar — both medium.
- Oak influence: Similar — both medium.
- Herbal / green character: Similar — both low.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Amarone della Valpolicella | Argentine Malbec |
|---|---|---|
| Floral character | low (1/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Sweetness | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | low (1/5) |
| Acidity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Tannin | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Alcohol | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Savoury character | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| Spice | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Body | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | medium (3/5) | medium (3/5) |
| Oak influence | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Earthy character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Texture | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Serve at | 16–18°C | 16–18°C |
| Typical flavours | dried cherry, fig, raisin, bitter chocolate, cinnamon | blackberry, black plum, violet, cocoa, blueberry |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Style
Amarone della Valpolicella
Dried-grape red of enormous concentration: 15–16% alcohol, dried-fruit intensity, and technically dry.
Style
Argentine Malbec
Mendoza’s velvet-textured, violet-scented red — soft, generous and the wine that made Malbec international.
Comparison
Amarone vs Valpolicella
Same grapes, same hills — how does one become 16% and the other 12%?
Comparison
Amarone vs Port
Two enormous Italian and Portuguese reds — is Amarone fortified?
Comparison
Amarone vs Ripasso
The full-price version, and the one made from what it left behind.