DAL FORNO ROMANO
VENETO, ITALY 2018
WHY BUY: We highlight great wine all the time, but this special bottle might go down as the greatest Valpolicella ever made.
Dal Forno’s 2019 Valpolicella Superiore just earned 98 points, a rating almost never seen for this DOC. This is not your average Valpolicella—it’s a benchmark for the entire region. Dal Forno uses the same appassimento method usually reserved for Amarone, partially drying the grapes to intensify richness, and structure. The result is what insiders call a “baby Amarone,” deep, dense, and age-worthy like its big brother, yet also fresh and thrillingly alive.
Romano Dal Forno, mentored by the legendary Giuseppe Quintarelli, changed the game in the Veneto. Now his son Marco is raising the bar even higher, bringing precision and freshness to their signature power. Dal Forno is redefining what Valpolicella can be, and 2019 could be one of their all-time greats.
THE CONTEXT: No less an eminence than Robert Parker declared Dal Forno the "reference point" for the Veneto. These have long been big, hedonistic wines, but with the talented scion Marco dal Forno now at the helm, they’re brimming with a newfound energy and freshness. These wines aspire not to dazzle the critics but only to be the best, most expressive, most fully-realized versions of themselves they can be. Monica Larner, also writing for The Wine Advocate, summed them up perfectly when she wrote that they "show such a high degree of individual personality that they occupy their own school of stylistic expression." We can't wait for you to experience this singularity for yourself.
OUR TASTING NOTES: The 2018 Amarone is what happens when forty-year-old vines meet obsessive perfectionism. It opens with an almost electric intensity that somehow remains graceful, layers of wild berry fruit dipping and dancing with mocha and clove while dusty, fine tannins give it elegance and structure. This is the first vintage to benefit from Dal Forno's newest vineyard acquisition, and you can taste the difference: there's a mineral backbone here that adds serious gravitas to all that gorgeous fruit. The Valpolicella Superiore punches well above its weight class, delivering Amarone-like richness with a vivacity that makes it dangerously drinkable. After 36 months in French and American oak, it emerges with that signature Dal Forno intensity, but that fresh red cherry lift keeps you coming back for more.
THE STORY: Romano Dal Forno had a knack for coaxing incredible depth and intensity from his wines, balancing their many and varied properties with impeccable skill, and aging them with infinite care (and also a lot longer than most producers). But all these wines begin with an incredibly strong foundation: the land. The family estate is located in the village of Val D'Illasi, and the 65 acres of vineyards are planted to Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Oseleta, and Croatina — indigenous varietals that thrive in the loose, alluvial soil. Recently, Romano has handed most winery responsibilities to his son Marco, who's been running the estate since 2020 with a vision for "more precision" while maintaining the family's legendary style. These wines are built both for the cellar and for more immediate pleasure, and showcase why Romano Dal Forno has been such an unstoppable force within the Veneto.
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Winter 2025 (Dec. 21st - Aug. 20th, 2026). All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer not valid in KS, MI, MO, NE, NY, OK & TN. This offer is valid for TWO WEEKS, or until sold out, and will expire on Thursday, August 21st, 2025.