Roccolo Grassi is a small winery nestled in the eastern hills of Valpolicella, near Soave. It shares its name with the vineyard from which their renowned Amarone originates. The estate comprises three vineyards, with vines ranging in age from 6 to 45 years. Since taking over from their father in 1986, siblings Marco and Francesca Sartori have dedicated themselves to transforming both the winery and its vineyards. Their approach emphasizes organic farming and a focus on quality over quantity. All of Roccolo Grassi’s wines are single-vineyard selections, ensuring that each wine benefits from the best grapes from its specific site rather than reserving top fruit solely for flagship wines and declassifying the rest. This meticulous attention to detail results in wines that are textured and luxurious while maintaining balance and freshness. During a visit to the winery, I had the opportunity to taste Soave vintages dating back to 2010 and Valpolicella Superiore from as far back as 1998—testaments to their age-worthiness and striking evolution in bottle.

The Roccolo Grassi vineyard itself spans four hectares, planted with older vines dedicated to the production of Amarone and Recioto. Situated at an elevation of 200–250 meters above sea level and facing southeast, the site benefits from ideal growing conditions. The vines are trained using the pergola system, and grapes are hand-harvested at the end of September.

Vinification begins with a natural cold maceration lasting 6–7 days in stainless steel tanks, thanks to the low outdoor temperatures at harvest time. The temperature is then raised to activate fermentation, which proceeds for 21 days at 25–27°C. During this period, the cap is regularly pumped over and punched down to extract color and flavor. Malolactic fermentation takes place in neutral oak barrels.

The wine is then aged for 26 months in 225-liter French oak barrels, half of which are new and half second passage, followed by an additional 24 months of bottle aging. The resulting Roccolo Grassi Amarone is a single-vineyard wine of remarkable structure, softness, and complexity. It exhibits exceptional balance, finesse, and a deep expression of the vineyard’s distinctive terroir, making it a wine of true character and personality.