The Roero’s great Negro estate traces its origins back to 1670. Owning some of the Roero’s most desirable vineyard sites, Negro is one of the indisputable legends of the region. Giovanni Negro, the estate’s present owner, is one of the first producers in the Roero to be certified organic – a rarity in this sector of Piemonte. Reflecting an unfiltered crimson-vermillion hue, Negro’s Vino Rosso is crafted exclusively from the unheralded Brachetto grape, rumored to be the wine of choice of Cleopatra and brought to her by Marc Antony and Julius Caesar to order to gain her favor. Packed with red cherry, muscat grape, and raspberry fruit, Negro’s Vino Rosso leverages Brachetto’s unbridled aromatic nature to unleash exotic expressions of rose petals, lilacs, violets, juniper, orange zest, Earl Grey tea, bitter herbs, and grapefruit. Utterly delicious, this is your wine to pair – lightly chilled or at cool cellar temperature – with spicy and smoked meats, barbecued chicken and ribs, piquant kebabs, peppery salumi, vegetable antipasti, and marinated mushrooms. Last year’s 2019 was an eye opener; this 2020 is out of this world! The importer encourages you to chill, shake, and serve: sounds like a plan.