Elio Grasso

Unconventional and highly respected: The wines of Elio Grasso

The family vineyards of Elio Grasso are located in a prestigious area, which already at the beginning of the last millennium was included in the list of the best vineyards by the eminent historian Lorenzo Fantini.Elio Grasso's mission is to preserve and highlight the special characteristics of the vineyards. In the early eighties he decided to return to the origins as a winemaker, to concentrate without restrictions on continuing the tradition and work of his predecessors.

The first logical consequence of this was the decision to vinify and bottle the grapes of the vines separately, starting in 1978. The family philosophy of small steps was implemented with successive replantings of Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto. Currently, no more than 70,000 bottles are produced on average. This quantity still justifies the designation of family business, which carefully oversees each phase and step, from the work in the vineyard to that in the cellar.

Meanwhile, the vines are on average 20 years old and produce pretty much the best that Piedmont has to offer. The Gambero Rosso, Italy's most prestigious wine guide, awards its "glasses" to Elio Grasso's wines with nice regularity, and Vinum has named Elio's "Gavarini Chiniera" the best Barolo of the 2003 vintage.