Italy · Veneto

Roccolo Grassi

Roccolo Grassi is a family estate in the Mezzane di Sotto valley in Valpolicella Classico, run by Marco Sartori and his family. Founded in the 1990s and rising to prominence in the 2000s, the estate farms approximately 10 hectares of Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella on steep, limestone-clay hillside terraces. The flagship Amarone della Valpolicella receives scores from Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate in the 92–97 range, making it a consistent critical darling. The Soave Superiore La Broia (from Garganega) and the Recioto della Valpolicella round out a portfolio focused on quality over quantity. At auction, the Amarone averages $85 per bottle with the range extending from $12 to $923 for older vintages or magnum formats. The estate uses a shorter appassimento period than many Amarone producers, typically 90–100 days, resulting in wines with notable freshness alongside the characteristic dried-fruit intensity. Roccolo Grassi represents excellent value in the context of serious Amarone, consistently trading below comparably-rated peers such as Dal Forno or Quintarelli.