Lombardy

Since 1897, Nino Negri has been the house that represents Valtellina to the outside world – and the Quadrio is one of its most reliable ambassadors. The name refers to the 15th century Castello Quadrio di Chiuro, the ancestral seat of the winery, named after Stefano Quadrio, once governor of Valtellina. Today, cellar master Danilo Drocco, a Nebbiolo purist from Alba, manages the winemaking process with a Piedmontese view of the Alps – and brings precisely this tension to the wine. Quadrio is a cuvée made from 90% Chiavennasca – the local name for Nebbiolo – and 10% Merlot, whose terraced fruit gently balances out the alpine austerity. The grapes come from south to south-east exposed steep slopes at 350–500 metres, on sandy limestone soils behind dry stone walls, harvested by hand as they have always been. Maceration in steel for ten days, followed by 18 months in large Slavonian and French oak barrels.

Pale straw yellow with greenish reflections, clear and brilliant in the glass. Seductive on the nose with notes of white peach, citrus zest, lime blossom and a hint of almond. Fresh and juicy on the palate, carried by lively, finely balanced acidity and a delicate, creamy texture. The clay-rich soils lend the wine a fine salty trace that harmoniously complements the fruity core. Long, mineral finish with plenty of drinkability. A Lugana that effortlessly combines crisp freshness, elegance and regional authenticity. SUPERIORE.DE

Delicate salmon pink colour with a copper shimmer. A fine interplay of redcurrants, raspberries, delicate grapefruit and a floral nuance of rosehip blossom on the nose. Lively and clear on the palate, carried by fresh, well-integrated acidity and a subtle spiciness. The medium body is supple, the fruit always remains elegant and underpinned by mineral accents. The final is delicately tart, with hints of pink grapefruit and a hint of almond skin. A charming Chiaretto with profile and sophistication – perfect as an aperitif or with light Mediterranean dishes. SUPERIORE.DE

Nebbiolo is red wine. Always. Barolo, Barbaresco, Valtellina Superiore – the great reds of the north. And yet: in the vineyards of the Alpi Retiche, on the steep terraces of Valtellina between 350 and 600 metres, Nino Negri makes a white wine from this grape variety. Blanc de Noir – with a depth and independence that shows what Nebbiolo can do when you take away the colour and let the minerality do the talking. The secret lies in the soil. The geological diversity of the Alpi Retiche is the result of the collision between the African and European continental plates – a collision that formed the Alps and left behind rocks of exceptional minerality. These soils give the Nebbiolo Bianco its unmistakable character: elegant, mineral, with a complexity that is surprising for a white wine from this region.

An elegant trip to Lake Garda: Rosa dei Frati combines the typical regional grape varieties Groppello, Marzemino, Sangiovese and Barbera to create a harmonious cuvée. Delicate salmon pink colour with a fine orange shimmer in the glass. A delicate interplay of summer berries, raspberries, redcurrants and elderflower on the nose, underpinned by a hint of almond blossom and green apple. Fresh and lively on the palate, carried by clear acidity, juicy fruit and a subtle salty minerality. The dry, structured final is long and inviting. A stylish rosé with a high drinking flow – ideal for light summer dishes, antipasti or simply as a lively aperitif. SUPERIORE.DE

This single-varietal Riesling comes from well-ventilated vineyards with Alsatian clones and combines freshness, structure and ageing potential. After manual harvest in small crates and one night of cooling at 10 °C, the grapes are gently pressed. The must remains on the lees for 48 hours to extract aromatic precursors before fermentation begins in stainless steel tanks. The wine then matures for six months on the fine lees.

Probably the most famous Lugana from the southern shore of Lake Garda – i Frati is the flagship of the estate. Made from 100% Turbiana from calcareous moraine soils, it combines regional typicity with fine modern precision. Brilliant straw yellow in the glass with greenish reflections. Fresh citrus fruit, white peaches, pears and a hint of almond blossom on the nose, complemented by delicate herbal notes. Clear and juicy on the palate, with lively, well-integrated acidity, fine flavour and a subtle mineral vein that lends freshness and depth in equal measure. The final is long, elegant and characterised by citrus fruit. A timeless classic that brings the terroir of the Lugana region perfectly into the glass – stylish, stimulating to drink and with assured ageing potential. SUPERIORE.DE

This Blanc de Noir from Conte Vistarino is made from gently pressed Pinot Nero grapes and is matured using the Charmat method. After fermentation, the wine matures on the lees for six months, giving it finesse and structure. Fine aromas of white flowers, apple and hazelnut on the nose, dry, precise and balanced on the palate. The elegant perlage, straw-yellow colour with a greenish shimmer and clear style make it a sophisticated sparkling wine that impressively reflects the nobility of Pinot Nero - complex and yet immediately accessible. SUPERIORE.DE

This elegant rosé sparkling wine made from Pinot Nero is produced after a short maceration period and gentle pressing. The base wine matures on the fine lees until December, is then fermented in an autoclave and matures on the lees for a further six months. This is followed by at least two months of ageing in the bottle. The colour in the glass is pale pink with a fine, persistent perlage. Aromas of raspberries, wild strawberries and yellow fruit on the nose. Soft, creamy and fresh on the palate, harmoniously rounded off with 10 g/l dosage. A balanced, aromatic sparkling wine with international appeal - sensual, structured and remarkably elegant. SUPERIORE.DE

Marzemino is an indigenous Venetian grape related to Refosco and Teroldego. Intense ruby red in colour with clear, purple-red reflections. In the glass, it has a fragrant and generous aroma of ripe red cherries and blackberries. The palate reveals a finely tuned harmony and an enveloping softness, enlivened by a cheerful, fresh acidity that leads to a very respectable finish full of character. Mazane is a highly distinctive red that you wouldn't necessarily immediately recognise as being from Lake Garda. A great pleasure when slightly chilled. SUPERIORE.DE

The Valtellina Superiore DOCG has five subzones – maroggia, Sassella, Grumello, Valgella and Inferno. The name of the fifth says it all: Inferno – hell. Not as a threat, but as a description. Because here, on the steepest and sunniest terraces in the entire Valle, there is a microclimate that is unrivalled in northern Italy. Rocky outcrops of light-coloured quartz rock protrude from the ground, reflecting the sun's rays during the day and releasing the stored heat during the cool nights. The steep slope allows the light to hit the ground vertically – maximum sunlight, maximum ripeness, maximum expression of the polyphenols in Nebbiolo. By the way: Nebbiolo is called Chiavennasca here – the local name for a grape variety that has developed independently in Valtellina over the centuries. Vineyards at 350 to 550 metres, southern exposure, strenuous manual harvesting on inhospitable terraces. In the cellar: fermentation at controlled temperatures, maturation in small oak barrels.

Groppello gentile is a grape with tightly packed berries, small seeds and a very thin and fragile skin. It is certainly the best-known red wine grape on the Riviera del Garda and was already cultivated by the Romans in the Valtènesi. Brilliant, deep ruby red colour. Pungent and very clear bouquet of fine spicy notes, with an interesting potpourri of violets, sage, plum, pepper and olive wood. Precise and fine texture on the palate with well-defined, beautifully knitted tannins. The palate remains primarily fruity, balanced and elegant through to the delicate and persistent final. A feminine and well-proportioned red wine with a beautiful terroir character. SUPERIORE.DE

In 1850, Count Augusto Giorgi di Vistarino travelled through Burgundy. He recognised what he saw: those chalky, clayey soils, those temperature fluctuations, that stillness between the hills – the same promise, just three hundred kilometres further east, south of Pavia. He brought the first Pinot Nero grape seedlings directly from France and planted them in Rocca de' Giorgi. An act of conviction that changed Oltrepò Pavese forever. Today, the Vistarino family is the fifth generation to carry on this legacy – ottavia Giorgi di Vistarino replanted with Burgundian clones, selecting for low yields and aromatic depth. The Costa del Nero is Pinot Nero from a single, dedicated ridge. Hand-picked into 20-kilogram boxes, cold storage overnight, 48 hours of cold maceration at 10°C – all designed for freshness and flavour. Fermentation in steel, partial ageing in wood: subtle, structural.

The name is the programme – and a promise. "Tre Filer": three rows, three grape varieties, one idea. Turbiana, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc grow on the chalky, clayey soils of Lugana di Sirmione, the southern shore of Lake Garda, which Ca' dei Frati has understood like no other winery in the region for generations. What is made from these grapes follows an old logic with modern self-confidence. The harvest takes place late – deliberately too late, one might say. What is left over goes into the fruttaio, the drying room, and rests there for at least ninety days. During this time, the berries shrink and everything concentrates: sugar, flavours, character. Then comes the surprise: no wooden barrels, no barriques – instead, twelve to fourteen months in steel on the fine lees, followed by a year of ageing in the bottle. A sweet wine that dispenses with any opulent wood flavour and instead focuses on purity.

Rosa Mara is undoubtedly one of the favourite wines of Mattia Vezzola, who is dedicated to reinterpreting a historic vinification method that has been practised in this region since the 18th century. This Chiaretto is produced using the traditional "a lacrima" method, in which the grapes are pressed gently and carefully so that they begin to "cry". To achieve the perfect colour, the tone of the rosato is constantly monitored during production. Speaking of perfect: with this wine, Mattia proves how masterfully he has mastered this process and brought it to absolute perfection.

The mulberry tree gave it its name. In Valtellina, it stood between the rows of vines for centuries, providing shade, bearing fruit and forming part of the landscape. Today it has become rare – but its name lives on in this wine, as a silent homage to the old mountain agriculture of this region. 100% Chiavennasca – the local name for the Nebbiolo of Valtellina – from vineyards in different subzones. What distinguishes the Mazér from the classic zone typologies is a small detail with a big effect: a small proportion of the grapes are dried for a few days. The concentrated must from these dried berries is added to the main wine – a touch of the Sforzato principle (appassimento), enough to soften the tannins and weave dark fruit flavours deeper into the bouquet. The result is a Valtellina Superiore with the freshness and purity of the mountains – and a velvety accessibility that makes it enjoyable earlier.

"Le Tense" is made from grapes that come exclusively from the Sassella DOCG subzone. During Swiss rule (1512 - 1797), the best vineyards were "secured" by armed guards, which is how it got its name. They became the most famous vineyards in the appellation. The selection of vines produces a wine that expresses the character of the soil: old stones and rocks that represent the terroir of Sassella. Nebbiolo from Sassella produces elegant aromas and delicate, harmonious flavours that are typical of the alpine reds of Valtellina.

With the Brolettino, Ca' dei Frati shows the powerful, mature side of Lugana. The Turbiana grapes come from older vines, whose deep roots give the fruit particular concentration. After fermentation, the wine matures for several months in barriques, which gives it additional structure and depth. Brilliant straw yellow colour with golden reflections in the glass. Ripe yellow fruit, pineapple, apricot and candied lemon on the nose, with fine vanilla and almond notes. Creamy and full-bodied on the palate, with an elegant woody flavour, fine minerality and harmoniously integrated acidity. The finish is long, smooth and delicately enveloping. A Lugana with fullness and elegance, which presents itself excellently both young and after a few years of ageing in the bottle. SUPERIORE.DE