Dal Forno Romano – The Art of Valpolicella

Founded in 1983 by Romano Dal Forno, the estate embodies the spirit of precision and modern excellence in Valpolicella. Today, his son Marco continues his father’s legacy with the same uncompromising rigor, under Romano’s watchful eye.

Located in the Illasi Valley, east of Verona, the vineyard spans 34 hectares planted at high density — nearly 13,000 vines per hectare. Indigenous varieties Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Croatina, and Oseleta are carefully selected to express the richness and complexity of this exceptional terroir.

A Terroir of Distinction

The vines are rooted in gravelly and clay-rich soils at around 300 meters above sea level. Warm days, cool nights, and natural ventilation allow for a slow, balanced ripening of the grapes.

The valley’s shape — broad on the plain and narrowing with altitude — ensures optimal exposure, enhancing aromatic concentration and natural freshness in the wines.

Rigorous Viticultural Methods

Dal Forno’s philosophy is built on an obsession with quality. Each vine is individually monitored, with green harvesting, strict bunch selection, and manual picking at optimal ripeness.

Grapes undergo the traditional appassimento drying process: 30 to 40 days for Valpolicella and up to 90 days for Amarone. This gentle drying concentrates aromas, tannins, and sugars, resulting in wines of extraordinary depth and intensity.

Winemaking & Aging

After appassimento, the grapes are fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The wines are then aged for 23 months in new French oak barrels, followed by 36 additional months in bottle. This long élevage ensures perfect aromatic integration and impeccable texture.

Signature Style: Concentration, Opulence, Elegance

Dal Forno Romano wines are defined by their density, aromatic richness, and inimitable elegance.

Valpolicella Superiore reveals notes of dark jammy fruit, cocoa, and spice, carried by a silky and balanced palate. Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, made entirely from dried grapes, delivers remarkable depth and complexity, with aromas of ripe cherry, leather, tobacco, and truffle. Vigna Seré, produced only in exceptional vintages, is a rare sweet wine — an opulent nectar with flavors of dried fruit, chocolate, and mocha.

Signature Wines

Valpolicella Superiore “Monte Lodoletta” — A broad-shouldered, elegant wine with notes of dark fruit, spice, and cocoa, combining power and freshness.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG “Monte Lodoletta” — A grand wine for long aging, powerful and complex, with velvety texture and endless finish.
Vigna Seré (Recioto della Valpolicella) — A rare, sweet and opulent wine with flavors of dried fruit, dark chocolate, and mocha.