Our History
1933 - 2023
WE WELCOME YOU
INTO OUR FIRST 90 YEARS of history,
AT THE ORIGINS OF AN ICONIC ITALIAN WINE:
Amarone
troubled times
The 1930s were troubled times for the world,
both politically and economically. In Italy and in
Valpolicella, wine growers were on their knees
and prices for grapes were at an all-time low.
Seven local businessmen decided to join forces
with a common goal: to enhance and promote
wine production in Valpolicella Classica and to
safeguard the area from speculative investment..
On 23rd august 1933.
Cantina Sociale Valpolicella
was founded in the context of
Villa Novare
Gaetano Dall’Ora, Carlo Vecchi, Giovanni Battista Rizzardi, Marco Marchi, Pier Alvise di Serego Alighieri, Silvio Graziani, Attilio Simonini.
These are the names of the seven founders who signed the deed of incorporation of the Cantina on 23rd August 1933 in Verona.
The first awards
From the special mention award at the Universal
Exhibition in Brussels in 1935 to an analagous
award at the Turin Wine Fair in the following year.
It only took a few months for the Cantina to start
to garner acclaim outside Valpolicella and beyond
Italy’s borders..
the origins of Amarone
A Recioto that had been left to ferment for too long gave rise to a
great red wine, a heritage of Valpolicella and of Italy: Amarone.
The unexpected became a project, along with the uncertainty surrounding its origins and the romanticism of a story handed down from generation to generation.
The legend of the birth of Amarone is always a fascinating story to get to know and to tell.
the first bottle of Amarone is "Extra"
If the concept of Amarone belongs to Valpolicella,
archival research dates the very first bottle of
Amarone defined as ‘Extra’ to 1936. It was
labelled and bottled by Cantina Sociale
Valpolicella.
The only existing bottle of Amarone Extra is from
1939 and is kept in the vault at Cantina Valpolicella
di Negrar. It attests to a primacy that was accorded
by history and is a culturally valuable asset that we
dedicate to the whole of Valpolicella and to Italy.
A PIONEERING PROJECT
“Amarone Extra” was part of a range of four Valpolicella wines under the Cantina Sociale Negrar brand, which included a “Bianco Secco Extra Superiore”, a “Recioto” and a “Recioto Amaro”. A complete range, it was part of a pioneering project that already had its sights set on the international market.
THE NEW HEADQUARTERS IN SAN VITO
The Second World War had just ended. In the Cantina there was a new forward-looking attitude and a stronger cooperative spirit.
These factors led to a change of headquarters in 1948. From Villa Novare we moved, along with our new members to San Vito di Negrar.
AMARONE CHANGES ADDRESS MOVING TO VIA CA' SALGARI AS CANTINA SOCIALE DI NEGRAR DI VALPOLICELLA
Almost a quarter of a century after it was set up, the Cantina, which had already earned the trust of over 80 members, was re-founded.
On 28th February 1957 we moved for the last time, to
n. 2 Via Ca’ Salgari in Negrar, the current headquarters, both for us and for Amarone.
'VALPOLICELLA'
AND 'RECIOTO DELLA
VALPOLICELLA' BECAME
DOC WINES
The 21st August 1968 is a crucial date in the history
of Veronese winemaking: by Decree of the President
of the Republic, the Valpolicella DOC and Recioto
della Valpolicella DOC appellations were established.
Amarone had to wait a few more years for formal.
recognition. At this point in time, it was considered a type of Recioto, but dry.
THE SPACE RACE BECAME A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION
Our fascination with the space race, which would culminate with the moon landings on 20th July, and our desire to celebrate this milestone for humanity led us to design a celebratory bottle, inspired by the lunar module of the Apollo missions.
The unusual design immediately struck a chord with our customers, so much so that we were persuaded to include it in our range of wines.
CUTTING EDGE
DOMÌNI VENETI
On completion of a research and zoning project in Valpolicella Classica, Domìni Veneti emerged.
The decision was both courageous and went against the grain at the time. It was the first example of positioning in the premium segment undertaken by an Italian cooperative winery, which started by selecting a significant portion of it grape production.
The name is a tribute to the lands of the ancient Republic of Venice, in the golden age of the Renaissance.
IT WAS TIME FOR AMARONE TO BE A DOC WINE
Good news, at last, for Amarone, which became a DOC wine, no longer considered a Recioto. We
celebrated the official recognition of the value of a wine that is indissolubly linked to our history and our identity and in which we have always believed.
A NEW NAME:
CANTINA
VALPOLICELLA
NEGRAR
More and more people were choosing us to represent Amarone and the outstanding wines of Valpolicella across the world. We wanted this winegrowing area, our constant companion, to become the centre of our name.
We chose to call ourselves Cantina Valpolicella Negrar.
THE MISSION OF
SUSTAINABILITY
Accompagniamo i nostri soci in un percorso di conversione ad una viticoltura non convenzionale, che parte dalla natura e ragiona sui suoi equilibri.
Lo facciamo insieme, come sempre, per creare una nuova e comune sensibilità, a beneficio del nostro territorio.
Diventiamo così i primi produttori di vini bioligici della zona Classica della Valpolicella.
We support our members on a path of transition to unconventional viticulture, which stems from nature and thinks about its own equilibrium.
We do it together, as always, to create a new and common sensibility, for the health of our land.
We thus turn into the first producers of organic wines in the Classic Valpolicella area.
L’Amarone
ACQUIRES DOCG STATUS
With the new production regulations in 1990, Amarone obtained DOCG status, fully entering into the prestigious pantheon of Italy’s great red wines, so highly appreciated worldwide. The quality of the work, the commitment and the perseverence of all those who believed in this wine was finally rewarded.
A TOAST WITH 240 GLASSES
Almost a century has gone since that 23 August 1933. Today there are 240 vine-growing members and more than 700 hectares of vineyards in Valpolicella Classica. As we celebrate the achievement of this important milestone, we are already ready for the years to come, with the same enthusiasm as our origins.
LISTENING AND EVOLVING WITH OUR PEOPLE, CONTRIBUTING TO PROGRESSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH, RESPECTING THE TIMES OF NATURE.
THIS IS OUR IDENTITY AND THE BEST OF BLENDS.
