Il Bugiardo means the Liar in Italian.
In 1993 Alfredo Buglioni bought the old farmhouse of his dreams situated in the heart of Valpolicella along with 4 acres of vines- all classic local red varietals including Corvina, Corvinone, Molinara and Rondinella. Fast forward to 2000, Alfredo, his son Mariano and with the help of an outside consultant made their first vintage- 12,000 bottles with their first Amarone coming later in 2004 with the assistance of oenologist Diego Bertoni.
Their first hurdle they faced was they were the ‘new kids on the block’ and no one took them seriously which jeopardized any chances of exposure or sales and ultimately survival. The solution was to convert a family boutique in Verona into a wine bar which became a hit and a launching pad for their wines.
Today, they produce 9 wines from 54 acres selling 280,000 bottles under their own label and about half of their grapes to famous more well-known wineries. They have also opened a more upscale sister restaurant, Piscaria, in the center of Verona.
The term Ripasso means to re-pass or pass over a second time: meaning passing the juice of the grapes used over Amarone skins extracting more depth and complexity and Amarone like characteristics. What your really getting is a baby Amarone (usually above $60) for about a third of the price.
This Ripasso comprises 60% corvina, 20% corvinone, 10% rondinella, 5% croatina, 5% oseleta and is a wonderful example of what this wine should be. The nose displays note of rich red fruits whilst the palate highlights layers of cherries, red raspberries and plums with secondary notes of spices with a inviting velvety mouthfeel and a long finish. As with all Italian wines, this should be decanted for about an hour and of course enjoyed with a pasta dish with a rich tomato-based sauce or pizza with your favorite toppings.
Vine to Table 