Summary
Elio Grasso is one of the most respected family estates in Monforte d'Alba and a fixture of classic Barolo. On around 18 hectares of vines, surrounded by woods and meadows, it makes wines from Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto with a clear sense of place. At the heart of the range are three single-vineyard Barolos: Ginestra Casa Maté, Gavarini Chiniera and the Riserva Runcot. Since Elio Grasso began estate-bottling in 1978, the house has earned a reputation for precise, long-lived and understated Barolo.
History
The Grasso family has farmed its hills near Monforte d'Alba for generations; the estate's founding is usually dated to 1928. For a long time the grapes were, as was common in the region, sold in whole or in part. The turning point came when Elio Grasso – then working at a bank in Turin – returned to his roots after his grandfather's death. From 1978, together with his wife Marina, he began vinifying the grapes from the family vineyards himself and bottling them under his own name.
Since then the estate has grown steadily without losing its family character. Today son Gianluca Grasso is responsible for vineyard and cellar, carrying on his father's classic style with great care.
Location & Terroir
Monforte d'Alba lies in the south of the Barolo zone and is known for powerful, tannic and particularly age-worthy Barolo. The family property covers around 42 hectares, of which only about 18 are vines – the rest is woodland and meadow that surround the estate like a small island and create a microclimate of their own. The Langhe are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The vineyards lie mainly in two crus right next to the winery: Ginestra and Gavarini. The soils are made up of calcareous marl and sand in varying proportions, which gives the wines of the two crus clearly different personalities. Below the winery lies the small Runcot plot of around 1.5 hectares.
Style & Philosophy
Elio Grasso's style is classic and built for longevity. The vineyards are farmed close to nature with a great deal of handwork; in the cellar the family relies on long maceration and ageing in large oak casks for the two single-vineyard Barolos. This produces wines with clear fruit, fine yet firm tannins and great ageing potential.
A deliberate exception is the Riserva Runcot: it matures in barrique and spends longer in the cellar before release – a dense, multi-layered Barolo that needs time. Beyond Barolo, the house takes pride in characterful Barbera and Dolcetto that bridge everyday drinking and the great wines.
Notable Sites & Wines
- Barolo Ginestra Casa Maté – powerful and structured, from the Ginestra cru
- Barolo Gavarini Chiniera – fragrant, elegant and finely knit
- Barolo Riserva Runcot – from the small plot below the winery, aged in barrique
- Barbera d'Alba Vigna Martina – named after Gianluca's daughter
- Dolcetto d'Alba and Langhe Chardonnay complete the range
Awards
Elio Grasso's Barolos have for years regularly received high scores in Italian and international wine guides and trade media. The estate is regarded as a reliable address for classic Barolo from Monforte – wines that are already precise in youth and gain depth over decades of ageing.
