Comparison
Amarone della Valpolicella vs Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
How Amarone della Valpolicella and Chianti Classico Gran Selezione differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
Amarone della Valpolicella and Chianti Classico Gran Selezione come from the same country but sit in different territory. The main differences: Amarone della Valpolicella has more spice; Chianti Classico Gran Selezione has more earthy character; Amarone della Valpolicella has more sweetness.
Choose
Amarone della Valpolicella
Choose Amarone della Valpolicella if you want something spicier, sweeter, stronger and warmer.
Choose
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Choose Chianti Classico Gran Selezione if you want something earthier, fresher and more acidic.
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.
Spice
Clear differencePepper, clove, cinnamon and related spice notes, whether from the grape (as with rotundone in Syrah) or from oak.
Amarone della Valpolicella is spicier: medium-plus against low.
Earthy character
Clear differenceForest floor, mushroom, wet stone, clay and undergrowth notes. Frequently, though not exclusively, associated with cooler and more traditional styles.
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione is earthier: 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.
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione is fresher and more acidic: high against medium-plus.
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.
Body
Clear differenceThe overall weight and viscosity of the wine in the mouth — a composite of alcohol, sugar, extract and glycerol.
Amarone della Valpolicella is fuller and richer: high against medium-plus.
Where they are much the same
Just as useful: knowing which parts of the choice do not matter.
- Tannin: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Aromatic intensity: Similar — both medium.
- Oak influence: Similar — both medium.
- Floral character: Similar — both low.
- Herbal / green character: Similar — both low.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Amarone della Valpolicella | Chianti Classico Gran Selezione |
|---|---|---|
| Spice | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | low (1/5) |
| Earthy 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 high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Alcohol | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Body | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Savoury character | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Texture | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Tannin | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| 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) |
| Floral character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Serve at | 16–18°C | 16–18°C |
| Typical flavours | dried cherry, fig, raisin, bitter chocolate, cinnamon | black cherry, leather, tobacco, dried herbs, espresso |
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
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
The top tier of Chianti Classico, introduced in 2013: estate fruit only, longer ageing, and since 2023 a higher Sangiovese minimum.
Comparison
Amarone vs Valpolicella
Same grapes, same hills — how does one become 16% and the other 12%?
Comparison
Chianti Classico Riserva vs Gran Selezione
What does the top tier actually require?
Comparison
Amarone vs Port
Two enormous Italian and Portuguese reds — is Amarone fortified?