Ripasso is one of Italy’s most ingenious and distinctive winemaking techniques — and the secret behind why Valpolicella Ripasso offers such extraordinary richness and complexity at its price point. The method is beautifully simple in concept: after the legendary Amarone della Valpolicella is made from dried Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara grapes, the spent skins — still rich with sugars, colour, and flavour — are used again. The Valpolicella wine is ‘repassed’ over these skins, re-fermenting and absorbing their concentrated character, gaining depth, body, and a lovely dried fruit richness that elevates it far beyond a standard Valpolicella. The result is sometimes called ‘baby Amarone’ — and it is easy to understand why. San Cassiano’s 2021 Ripasso Superiore is a beautiful example of the style: a rich, generous nose of dark fruit, dried cherries, and a lovely hint of spice that immediately signals something more serious than everyday Italian red. On the palate it is medium-full bodied, with excellent length, a lovely natural warmth, and a complexity and depth that belies its price. The kind of wine that over-delivers at every turn — and that makes the perfect companion to a rich ragù, braised meats, or aged hard cheese. At £25.99, it is outstanding value for a Superiore of this quality and character.