Dal Cero Valpolicella 2022

The Dal Cero family humbly started this operation in 1934 with only a few acres. Today, they’re on their third generation – Davide, Francesca, and Nico – running three different estates across Italy and 272 acres of vineyards. Their reputation for quality has expanded the operation beyond their wildest dreams: past Valpolicella into Soave and then eventually into Tuscany. But all the while, they remained true to their roots and stuck with what they do best: traditional Italian winemaking with native grapes and a deep respect for the land. Everything is estate-owned, estate-bottled, and fully sustainable. Everything under their control, so that quality never slips.

While they are known for their full fleet of wines, including their age-worthy Amarone bottlings, for me this is the best value in the fleet, and it’s not all that close. Their Valpolicella comes from vineyards overlooking beautiful Verona on a natural terrace with volcanic and limestone soils that give it minerality and freshness. The grapes here are Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Molinara – the classic blend, all coming from 25-35-year-old vines.