Stagionato – cask-aged amaro

Stagionato by Mondino, one year in oak barrels for the organic Amaro

Stagionato by Mondino is the barrel-aged special edition of the Bavarian organic Amaro. It rests in oak barrels for almost a year before being bottled by hand. Twenty organic ingredients, 24 percent alcohol, plus vanilla and caramel from the wood.

Stagionato is the barrel-aged Amaro from Mondino in Traunstein, Chiemgau, and is the darker, calmer sister of the Aperitivo. Bitter oranges from Sicily and Spain, tart gentian, and local rhubarb continue to form the foundation, but the months spent in oak add a layer of vanilla and caramel.

Bitter orange, rhubarb, and vanilla from the wood

In the aroma, citrus fruit still takes the lead, but it comes across as more mature, accompanied by a warm sweetness that originates from the barrel.

On the palate, the fruity bitter orange appears, beneath which lies the dry pull of gentian and the acidity of the rhubarb. The oak wood layers vanilla and caramel in between, velvety and soft, and takes the sharp edge off the bitterness. The finish remains long, tart, and surprisingly calm.

Stagionato owes its gentle red color to hibiscus flowers, which are included in the process and release their hue. Therefore, no artificial dyes from a bottle, but rather a flower found in many tea blends, with a shade that varies slightly from batch to batch.

Neat in the glass or as a bolder Spritz

Stagionato holds its own when served alone in a glass, without ice or tonic, simply at room temperature after a meal. A bulbous glass suits it better than a narrow one, as it gives the barrel aroma air and allows you to enjoy more of it on the nose.

If you still wish to dilute it, it makes for a Spritz with significantly more depth than the summery version, or you can mix it into dark cocktails where its barrel notes take center stage. Salty snacks and roasted nuts, such as the Luxury Cocktail Nut Mix in a glass, pair better with it than sweets.

It also pairs well with strong cheese, such as an aged mountain cheese or a blue cheese, the saltiness of which brings out the barrel notes. Those who prefer to open the evening, however, should reach for the lighter bottles from the Aperitif category and save the Stagionato for later.

In its 700 ml bottle and with its limited edition, it often ends up as a gift on tables where you encounter people who previously thought Amaro was a synonym for sugar syrup. Further bottles for such occasions are available under Gifts.

Almost a year of rest in oak barrels

Stagionato means matured, and that is exactly the difference between it and everything else from this house.

The finished Amaro is transferred into oak barrels and left to rest for almost a full year. During this time, the wood releases its vanillin and roasted compounds, while the herbal extracts fuse together. The longer this blending process takes, the less you taste the twenty ingredients individually and the more you experience the Amaro as a whole.

Bottling is done by hand, and because a barrel eventually runs dry, the production remains limited. Everything that ends up in the bottle carries the organic seal; no artificial flavors are added. With 24 percent alcohol, Stagionato sits between the light Amaro Bavarese and the strong Amanero, and you can find all three side by side at Mondino.

Organic inspection body – DE-ÖKO-007 EU/Non-EU Agriculture