"In 30 years of wine reporting, I've never come across a story quiet like this" - Andrew Jefford
Tucked away in the Illasi Valley on the eastern edge of Valpolicella, the Dal Forno estate has become a benchmark for Italian winemaking excellence. Founded in 1983 by Romano Dal Forno - born into a family of grape growers but inspired to do more - the winery reflects a relentless pursuit of quality and innovation.
Romano’s turning point came after meeting the legendary Giuseppe Quintarelli, who mentored him in the art of crafting profound, age-worthy wines. While early vintages echoed Quintarelli’s style, today Dal Forno wines stand proudly on their own - often considered his equal.
The estate's crown jewels, Amarone della Valpolicella "Monte Lodoletta" and Valpolicella Superiore "Monte Lodoletta", are made in tiny quantities using painstaking methods. Grapes are dried to intensify flavor, and yields are famously low—it takes around seven vines to make a single bottle of Valpolicella, and ten for Amarone. From just 8 hectares, no more than 1,500 cases emerge each year.
Now joined by his sons, Luca, Michele, and Marco, Romano continues to craft wines of immense power, depth, and rarity—treasures fiercely sought by collectors and connoisseurs worldwide.
