Nino Negri is the leading producer in Valtellina (northern Lombardia, Sondrio province), the dramatic mountain wine zone of steep terraced vineyards above the Adda River at the foot of the Alps, near the Swiss border. Valtellina DOCG uses Nebbiolo locally called Chiavennasca grown at 300750 metres altitude on south-facing granite terraces: one of the most physically challenging wine landscapes in Italy. Nino Negri produces Valtellina Superiore from the five sub-zones (Sassella, Grumello, Inferno, Valgella, Maroggia) and the flagship Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG (Sfursàt) Valtellina's dried-grape wine, produced from partially dried Nebbiolo, creating an intensely concentrated, high-alcohol (minimum 14%) wine with extraordinary depth.

Sforzato di Valtellina is the Alpine equivalent of Amarone: the same late-harvest-dried-grape method applied to Nebbiolo rather than Corvina. The 5 Stelle Sforzato is the prestige expression the result of extended drying (34 months), gentle pressing, and long ageing in small French oak barrels. For programmes building a serious Italian red list that demonstrates the full range of Italian wine ambition, Valtellina Nebbiolo represents the Alpine mountain-wine tier alongside Barolo and Barbaresco entirely different in terrain and style but sharing the same grape.