🇮🇹 Campo Piano Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC 2019

Ripasso is Valpolicella after dark: richer, deeper, and way more interesting than it has any right to be at this price vibe. This one comes from Tenuta Gugi’s high-altitude Campiano fruit and gets the classic “Ripasso” glow-up with Amarone skins.

Product Description 

Campo Piano Ripasso Superiore DOC 2019 is the kind of Italian red that makes “one glass” a liar. It starts as Valpolicella, then goes back through a second fermentation with the pomace from Amarone and Recioto, which is basically the cheat code for extra body, color, and complexity. 

Tenuta Gugi is a small Valpolicella-focused estate founded in the early 2000s with about 8 hectares split between Illasi and Cazzano di Tramigna, working the traditional pergola veronese and doing pruning and harvest by hand. They’re also converting their vineyards to organic production, because not everyone hates nature. 

The Vibe 

Plush, dark-fruited Ripasso energy with a slightly more “mountain” posture, because the fruit for this bottling is sourced from Tenuta Gugi’s Campiano vineyards at about 600 meters. It’s not shy, it’s not thin, and it’s absolutely not here to be background music. 

What it tastes like

Think deep cherry and plum territory with that Ripasso signature: a rounder mouthfeel, darker color, and more aromatic complexity than straight Valpolicella, because the wine literally gets “re-passed” over those powerful skins. 

Pairing + When to drink it 

Go full cozy: steak, braised meats, game, or rich pasta when you want dinner to feel like a plot twist. Drink now with a little air, or stash it, the producer’s notes suggest an aging window around 7 to 8 years. 

Quick Specs

• Producer: Tenuta Gugi (Campo Piano) 

• Region/Appellation: Veneto, Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC 

• Grapes: Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Oseleta 

• Vintage: 2019 

• Farming: In conversion to organic; hand work for pruning and harvest (as stated by the producer/portfolio material)

• Winemaking/Aging: Second fermentation with Amarone pomace; 8 months in French oak tonneaux (500L); 6 months bottle aging 

• ABV: 15% 

• Bottle size: 750ml 

FAQs 

Q: What does “Ripasso” mean on Campo Piano Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC 2019?
A: “Ripasso” refers to the second fermentation where basic Valpolicella is re-passed over the pomace from Amarone (and Recioto), boosting body, color, and aromatic complexity. It’s the traditional glow-up that turns Valpolicella into something moodier and more intense.

Q: What’s special about the Campiano vineyard source for Campo Piano Ripasso?
A: Tenuta Gugi states this Ripasso is produced from grapes from their vineyards in Campiano at about 600 meters above sea level. Higher elevation sites can push a fresher structure while still delivering the Ripasso richness.

Q: How big is Tenuta Gugi, the producer behind Campo Piano?
A: The estate is described as having roughly 8 hectares of vineyards. That small footprint is exactly why wines like this don’t taste like committee decisions. 

Q: Where are Tenuta Gugi’s vineyards located in Valpolicella?
A: The producer material places their vineyards in the municipalities of Illasi (around 100m) and Cazzano di Tramigna, within the Valpolicella DOC area. Different sites, same obsession with classic local varieties.

Q: What is “pergola veronese” and why does Tenuta Gugi use it?
A: Pergola veronese is a traditional Valpolicella training system, and Tenuta Gugi says they use it for their vineyards. They also note pruning and harvest are done by hand, in line with local tradition. 

Q: Is Campo Piano Ripasso 2019 high alcohol, and what’s the listed ABV?
A: Yes, this bottling is listed at 15.0% ABV, which tracks with Ripasso’s tendency to come in bigger than standard Valpolicella. If you want light and breezy, this is not your flirt.