The Ripasso Method from the Heart of Valpolicella Classico — Cantina di Negrar

My Wine Man on Cantina di Negrar

Cantina di Negrar is one of the most respected and historically significant wine cooperatives in the Veneto — founded in 1933 in the village of Negrar, at the very heart of the Valpolicella Classico zone. For over 90 years, the cooperative has united the region's finest growers, farming vineyards across the classic hillside terroirs of the appellation and producing wines that are deeply rooted in the traditions of northeastern Italy. The Ripasso method — re-fermenting Valpolicella wine on the dried grape skins left over from Amarone production — is one of the great winemaking techniques of the Veneto, producing wines of greater concentration, complexity, and structure than standard Valpolicella, at a fraction of the price of Amarone. This is Ripasso done properly: by people who have been making it for generations.

Tasting Notes

The 2021 Cantina di Negrar Ripasso is a wine of real character and regional typicity. Intense and persistent on the nose, it opens with fruity aromas of cherry and plum, lifted by floral notes of violet and a touch of spiciness from black pepper — the hallmark of the Corvina grape at its most expressive. On the palate, the wine is fresh and fruity, with an elegant balance between structure and body. The acidity is perfectly calibrated, the tannins velvety and harmonious, and the overall impression is one of warmth, generosity, and genuine drinkability. A wine that rewards the table as much as the glass.

Style & Drinking Window

Medium-bodied with velvety tannins, bright acidity, and excellent natural balance. A versatile food wine — ideal with grilled and braised red meats, traditional Veronese dishes such as Pastissada de caval and lesso con Pearà, or lasagnette with black truffle. Drinking beautifully now, and will continue to develop through 2027–2030.

Why This Is a Smart Buy

At HK$188, the 2021 Cantina di Negrar Ripasso delivers the concentration and complexity of the Amarone method — via the traditional Ripasso technique — at a fraction of the price. This is one of the most food-friendly and genuinely satisfying Italian reds in the store, from a cooperative with over 90 years of winemaking tradition in the heart of Valpolicella Classico.

Looking for a Different Style?

- 2013 Amarone della Valpolicella Brolo Dei Giusti — the full Amarone experience from an artisan estate, for those ready to step up in concentration and intensity
- 2018 Casalforte Valpolicella Ripasso DOC — another well-regarded Ripasso from the Valpolicella zone, for those who want to explore the style across different producers
- 2020 Alpha Zeta Valpolicella Ripasso Superior DOC — a modern, fruit-forward Ripasso Superiore for those seeking a more approachable, contemporary expression

Life's too short for bad wine.