Dal Forno Romano
Located in Val D’Illasi in the Valpolicella region, this artisanal wine estate was established by Romano Dal Forno in 1986. Founded on his uncompromising vision, he combined traditional practices with modern techniques to climb to the pinnacle of vintners producing wines from dried grapes.
Almost forty years later the estate is still run by the family, with his son Marco at the helm and Romano always by his side. They, and the rest of the family, all live on site and external help is only brought in at harvest; a truly family run operation.
Dal Forno Romano make three wines: a Valpolicella Superiore, an Amarone, and a sweet Recioto-style wine called Vigna Seré.
Romano found inspiration from renowned winemaker Giuseppe Quintarelli, a legend in Valpolicella and Italy. Under his expert guidance, Dal Forno Romano was able to shift from quantity-based production to an operation devoted entirely to quality.
He also used his engineering nous to design several pieces of technology, notably a moveable-fan dehydration system.
Dal Forno Romano are an estate with quality, family, and innovation at their core. Rich, collectable wines that sing of their origins.
Romano Dal Forno: Romano Dal Forno, namesake of the estate, is the owner and winemaker along with his three sons Luca, Michele and Marco. Romano was born in 1957 and brought up in Capovilla, a small village in Val D’Illasi. He grew up in the agricultural world and as a child helped his father in the fields when extra hands were needed. It was then that he learned the basics of viticulture and winegrowing.
Romano went on to study agriculture in the Bassa Veronese district. After his schooling, he worked on a farm but was disillusioned with the old attitudes that were prevalent—the general lack of initiative and the failure to introduce new methods, to experiment and to carry out research. He went in search of a new outlet, somewhere he could express his personality and create something new. It was at that time, in 1982, that he first encountered the world of fine wine.
Romano immediately recognized the opportunities open to him in building a winery and the potential in developing land that at first seemed arid and poor. From a wider cultural perspective, he felt that such a product would represent a healthy lifestyle to offer to a public that was eager to enjoy things that were at once simple, genuine and sophisticated.
His vision became a reality and has since taken on a personality of its own. Romano has always felt a deep need to bring out the full potential of the land. He re-introduced native vines that had fallen into almost complete disuse, as well as certain viticultural practices. Romano remains on a constant search for quality, both in the final product and in all that surrounds it.