Roccolo Grassi 2019 Valpolicella Superiore Veneto

A gem in Valpolicella, this Superiore-level red comes from the limestone soils of Eastern Valpolicella. This is a luxurious and bright Valpolicella without ever feeling sweet or heavy, a rare balancing act for the wines of this area. After years of pouring Roccolo Grassi in restaurants, I finally visited in 2023 in a spur of the moment appointment. Marco and Francesca kindly took me through the operation established by their father Bruno Sartori in 1996. The winery is named after a prized vineyard in Valpolicella located in the Lessini hills of eastern Valpolicella. They are a small house that makes refined wines of character from organically grown grapes. In a region known for drying grapes to produce sweet and inky Amarone, the Grassi’s stand out as among the few who seek to make a dry (fully fermented) product.

• WINEMAKER: Marco and Francesca Sartori
• VARIETAL: Mostly Corvina with Corvione, Rondinella and Croatina
• APPELLATION: Valpolicella
• REGION: Veneto
• VINEYARD: organic
• WINERY: 15d on the skins, aging in barrique and cask for 20m
• ABV: 12.5
• SERVE: serve cool