Rondinella is a native red grape of Veneto, grown almost entirely in the Valpolicella and Bardolino areas near Verona, where it is the classic blending partner of Corvina in Valpolicella, Ripasso and Amarone. It rarely appears on its own, but it is part of almost every bottle of Valpolicella, adding colour, soft fruit and herbal notes to the blend.
DNA research suggests that Rondinella is an offspring of Corvina, the region's leading grape. Growers value it for practical reasons: it is vigorous, crops reliably, resists disease well and, thanks to its thick skins, tolerates the months-long drying process used for Amarone and Recioto better than many other varieties.
Rondinella's home is the hills north of Verona, between Lake Garda and the Lessini mountains. In the Valpolicella area it grows in the historic Classica zone (around Fumane, Marano, Negrar, San Pietro in Cariano and Sant'Ambrogio), in the Valpantena valley and in the wider eastern zone. Soils range from limestone and marl to volcanic basalt, and the vineyards are often planted on terraces called marogne, held up by dry-stone walls.
Rondinella is also grown on the eastern shore of Lake Garda, where it goes into Bardolino and its rosé, Chiaretto. Outside the Verona area it is very rare.
Rondinella is a required component of the Valpolicella wines. The rules call for Corvina (which can be partly replaced by Corvinone) as the main grape, with Rondinella making up roughly 5 to 30% of the blend and other local red grapes such as Molinara or Oseleta allowed in smaller amounts.
Some producers also use Rondinella in Veneto IGT blends.
On its own, Rondinella makes a medium-bodied red with moderate acidity and soft tannins.
Because it ripens reliably and withstands drying, Rondinella helps give consistency to Amarone and Recioto from vintage to vintage.
Pair according to the style of Valpolicella wine:
You will rarely find a wine labelled "Rondinella", so explore it through the Valpolicella family. Start with a Valpolicella Classico for its fresh fruit, move on to a Ripasso for more richness, and keep Amarone for special occasions. Our Amarone wine guide, the best Amarone wines and the best Veneto wines suggest bottles at every level.
Look on the back label for the grape percentages: a higher share of Rondinella usually means a slightly softer, more floral wine. Well-known Valpolicella houses include Allegrini, Masi, Tommasi, Zenato, Tedeschi and Santa Sofia.
Rondinella works alongside Corvina and Corvinone, the other pillars of the Valpolicella blend. Discover more varieties in the grape varieties index.