Nino Negri, historical producer of Valtellina

Nino Negri is the most important wine producer in the Valtellina region and also one of the oldest. The Nino Negri cellar alone contains no less than 1500 French and American oak barrels and more than 100 large oak casks. The annual production reaches nearly 800,000 bottles, which is huge for the region, but which is actually very little in Italy. Nino Negri produces more than twenty vintages.

Valtellina is a region of Lombardy located north of Lake Como, in the province of Sondrio, near the Swiss border. The Valtellina is a valley of about 40 kilometers that stretches from east to west, at the foot of the Alps.

Nino Negri is a historical estate of the region. Founded in 1897, it now owns 31 hectares of vineyards in the most prestigious areas of the Valtellina: 2 hectares in the Sassella area, 11 hectares in Grumello, 11 hectares in Inferno and 7 hectares in Fracia (a sub-area of Valgella). Some of the vineyard terraces are so difficult to access that they require up to 1000 hours of work per hectare. Nino Negri even rents a helicopter at harvest time to bring the grapes from the most inaccessible vineyards in the Inferno area to the winery. If you have never rented a helicopter, which is my case, you should know that the rate is around 25 euros… per minute! At this rate, no time to laugh or take your time during the harvest!

The chief oenologist, Casimiro Maule, a native of Trentino, has worked for Nino Negri since 1971. He has supervised more than 40 harvests. He is certainly one of the most respected oenologists in the region and even in the country. In 2007, the Gambero Rosso awarded him the title of Oenologist of the Year in Italy.
Nino Negri, like most producers in the region, produces wines that are aged in large oak barrels. What sets him apart is that he also offers a range of wines that are decidedly more modern, aged for less time in small Bordeaux-style oak barrels.
I was received during a visit to the estate by Claudio Alongi, oenologist at Nino Negri. Claudio, who works with Casimiro Maule, made me taste many wines. Thank you Claudio for the visit and the great tasting!

The Wines

The Selezioni di Prestigio Range

5 Stelle, DOCG Sfursat di Valtellina: the most awarded wine of the estate, produced only in the best years. 100% nebbiolo, hand picked, selected grapes after a natural drying of 3 months. The grapes are then vinified with a long maceration, then aged in French oak barrels for at least 20 months. Then rest for 6 months in the bottle before marketing.
Carlo Negri, DOCG Sfursat di Valtellina: 100% nebbbiolo, hand-picked after natural drying of the grapes for 3 months. Fermentation in stainless steel tanks and then aged for 20 months in large oak barrels of 20, 30 and 50 hectoliters.
Vigneto Fracia, DOCG Valtellina Superiore: 100% nebbiolo from the 7 ha vineyard in the Fracia area. The grapes are harvested between the end of October and the beginning of November, slightly overripe. Short maceration and then complete alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels, followed by a 20-month aging process. Rest for 6 months before marketing.
Carlo Negri Inferno, DOCG Valtellina Superiore: the grapes here come from the most inaccessible vineyards of Nino Negri’s vineyard, in the Inferno area, also known as the hottest in the area. 100% nebbiolo, hand-picked at the end of October. Fermented for 8 days and aged for 24 months in oak barrels.
Ca’Brione, IGT Terrazze Retiche di Sondrio: one of the few white wines of Valtellina. Atypical blend of very slightly dried Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay grapes, Incrocio Manzoni and Nebbiolo. Fermented and aged for 8 months in French oak barrels (half new and half used).

The Grandi Selezioni Range

Tense, DOCG Sassella Valtellina Superiore: 100% nebbiolo from the Sassella area. Short fermentation in stainless steel tanks, then aged for 24 months, 30% in large oak barrels of 30 to 50 hectoliters, and the rest in barrels already used twice.
Mazèr, DOCG Valtellina Superiore: 100% nebbiolo, harvested at the end of September. 20% of the harvest is dried for 40 days. Fermentation and aging in American and French oak barrels. The remaining 80% of the harvest is fermented in stainless steel tanks and then aged for 20 months, partly in small French oak barrels and the rest in large French oak barrels of 30 to 50 hectoliters. Aged and rested in bottle for 24 months.
Sassorosso, DOCG Grumello Valtellina Superiore: 100% nebbiolo, 70% vinified and aged in French oak barrels of 30-50 hectoliters and 30% in barrels. Aged and rested in the bottle for 24 months.
Quadrio, DOCG Valtellina Superiore: a very large majority of nebbiolo with some merlot added. Fermented in stainless steel tanks and then aged for 18 months in French oak tuns of 30 to 50 hectoliters and Slavonian tuns of 80 hectoliters.

The Classici delle Sottozone Range

Inferno DOCG Valtellina Superiore, Sassella DOCG Valtellina Superiore, Grumello DOCG Valtellina Superiore: all three are 100% nebbiolo, short fermentation and aging for 24 months in French and Slavonian oak barrels.
Rosso di Valtellina, DOC Valtellina Superiore: 100% nebbiolo, short fermentation and aging for 3 months in oak barrels.

The Selezioni di Valtellina Range

DOCG Sfursat di Valtellina: 100 % nebbiolo, grapes harvested by hand and dried for 3 months. Fermentation on skins and long maceration, then aged in oak barrels and large oak casks of 30 to 50 hectoliters.
DOCG Inferno Valtellina Superiore, DOCG Sassella Valtellina Superiore, DOCG Fracia Valtellina Superiore and DOCG Valgella Valtellina Superiore: blends of nebbiolo, pignola and pinot noir. Long maceration and then aging for 2 months in stainless steel tanks and 18 months in Slavonian oak barrels.
DOCG Grumello Valtellina Superiore: blend of nebbiolo, brugnola and rossola. Long maceration and then aging for 2 months in stainless steel tanks and 18 months in Slavonian oak barrels.
DOC Rosso di Valtellina: a blend of nebbiolo, brugnola, rossola and pignola. Aged for 3 months in stainless steel tanks and 3 months in Slavonian oak barrels.

Nino Negri also produces a sparkling wine, the Cuvée Carlo Negri, classic method, as well as a Grappa di Sfursat.

In summary, Nino Negri is without a doubt one of the best and most respected wineries in Lombardy for the quality and diversity of its products. By drinking a Nino Negri wine, you can discover inexpensive and accessible wines as well as enjoy one of their critically acclaimed premium vintages. In the end, nebbiolo lovers will be delighted! So don’t hesitate to visit Nino Negri if you are in Valtellina.

To Plan a Visit:
Nino Negri
Via Ghibellini, 3 – Chiuro (Sondrio)
tel. 0342.485211
http://www.ninonegri.net
n.negri@giv.it