About Vigneti di Ettore
I Vigneti di Ettore is the Righetti family estate at Negrar, begun in 1930 when Gioanin Righetti bought the Casetta farm and enlarged by his son Ettore, whose name the winery carries. Today Giampaolo Righetti, an agronomist, and his son Gabriele, a trained winemaker, farm nearly 19 hectares across five Negrar valley crus: Moron, Jago, Osteria Vecchia, Costa del Buso and Casetta. The vineyards, on alluvial, volcanic tuff and clay soils, are worked organically under pergola and Guyot, and the cellar aims for fresh, balanced, elegant wines, about 80,000 bottles a year.
Prices are for take away and shipping. The wine bar serves from its own list.
The winery
About Vigneti di Ettore
History
The family story starts in 1930, when Gioanin and Jolanda bought the Casetta, the house where their children grew up, with the vineyards around it. That was the first core of today's estate. Their son Ettore Righetti, born in Negrar, spent over fifty years leading the Negrar winery. Over the following decades he renovated the house and the vines and bought more land in the best parts of the Negrar valley. With his son Giampaolo he tested old and nearly forgotten local grapes such as Turchetta, Pelara, Recantina and Spigamonti. In 2012 his grandson Gabriele, who holds a degree in oenology and had worked in other Italian regions, took over the company and now leads the winemaking.
The land and the vineyards
The vineyards climb the hills of the Negrar valley in Valpolicella Classica, from 190 to 450 metres above sea level. The estate site mentions about 19 hectares in five plots: Moron, Jago, Osteria Vecchia, Costa del Buso and Casetta. Soils change with height, with clay low down, limestone above and paleovolcanic rock at the top. The vines are trained on the traditional pergola, which shades the bunches and keeps freshness and aroma in the grapes. The main grapes are Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella, with smaller amounts of Oseleta, Molinara and the rare local varieties. Harvest is by hand, with selection in the vineyard into small crates, and the estate has a section on its organic approach.
The wines
The range runs from the light red of Valpolicella Classico to the deeper colour of Amarone, and also includes Ripasso and Recioto. The family says it looks for elegant, lively wines instead of heavy ones, aiming for wines that are easy to drink and balanced. Decanter and other critics have reviewed their Amarone Classico and Ripasso Classico Superiore across several vintages.
Today
The estate is at Via Casetta di Montecchio in Negrar di Valpolicella. Ettore, Giampaolo and Gabriele work together, and the family also runs a farmhouse stay, LeCroibe, with a swimming pool among the vines.
- Founded
- 1930 (Casetta bought); own wine since 2012
- Vineyards
- About 19 hectares in five plots, 190 to 450 m
- Main grapes
- Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella
- Owners
- Righetti family
- Winemaker
- Gabriele Righetti