Founded in 1897 in the heart of Lombardy's Valtellina, the Nino Negri estate stands as an emblematic reference in Italian viticulture, brilliantly showcasing Nebbiolo in the majestic setting of the Alps.
An Iconic Valtellina Estate
A Century-Old History
The story of Cantina Nino Negri begins in 1897, when Nino Negri, a native of Aprica, settled in Chiuro after marrying Amelia Galli. The property was established in a 15th-century palace, once gifted by the Duke of Milan to Stefano Quadrio. In 1927, Carluccio, Nino's son, joined the family business and greatly contributed to its reputation. In the late 1970s, Gruppo Italiano Vini acquired the company, marking a new chapter in its development.
The Excellence of a Mountain Terroir
The Valtellina forms an amphitheatre of spectacular terraces, carved into the high slopes of the Lombard Alps and supported by 2,500 kilometres of ancient stone walls. Bathed in sunshine and marked by significant temperature variations, this territory benefits from the protection of high mountain ranges that shield it from icy northern winds and humid southern sirocco winds.
This unique microclimate allows Nebbiolo, the region's king of grapes, to fully flourish and capture all the subtleties of the terroir. Harvested by hand, Nebbiolo is called Chiavennasca in the Valtellina region, where it develops a unique expression that distinguishes it from Nebbiolo grown in Piedmont.
As the estate confides: "It's a Nebbiolo that tells our story and that of mountain viticulture that some call heroic, but which for us is simply our way of making wine."
With 35 hectares of owned vineyards and 125 hectares under direct management, Nino Negri possesses the largest wine estate in Valtellina.
Nino Negri, Mountain Wines from Valtellina
Fracia and Sassorosso are Nebbiolo crus from century-old terraces, true witnesses to an ancestral winemaking heritage.
Vigna Fracia, a Historic Vineyard
Spanning 7 hectares, Vigna Fracia faces one of the harshest climates in Valtellina. Owned by Nino Negri since 1897, this vineyard extends at the confluence of alpine valleys composed of glaciers, where cold breezes maintain temperatures below the regional average. Paradoxically, spontaneous Mediterranean vegetation (rosemary and lavender) thrives here, creating a striking contrast with the severity of the terroir. This singularity gives birth to a flavourful and floral wine with characteristic spice aromas.
Vigna Sassorosso: When Rock Shapes Elegance
Facing due south, Sassorosso unfolds its 11 hectares on an isolated promontory, shaped by glacial erosion over the centuries. The few centimetres of topsoil force the roots to plunge deep into the bedrock, giving the wine remarkable elegance and minerality.
Sfursat 5 Stelle: An Exceptional Wine
Produced only in exceptional vintages, this flagship wine of the region embodies the excellence of Nebbiolo. Its singularity lies in a rigorous approach, from cultivation to harvest, followed by a unique process: the grape bunches are naturally dried for approximately three months using the ancestral appassimento technique, losing 30% of their weight. The result is a concentrated, vigorous and intense wine of exceptional richness and length. Sfursat establishes itself as a true "meditation wine": velvety, deep, full-bodied and of great complexity.
