November 11th: Elio Grasso with Gianluca Grasso
At Vinonueva | 5145 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL, 33137 | 7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Click HERE to get tickets
Join us at Vinonueva for a Walkthrough Tasting with Gianluca Grasso, son of Elio Grasso, as we explore the family’s history, its approach to winemaking, and the distinctive expressions of Monforte d’Alba that have defined this estate.
What makes Elio Grasso particularly compelling is the opportunity to understand Barolo through the vineyards themselves: how neighboring sites, cultivated by the same family and interpreted through a consistent winemaking philosophy, can produce wines of such different personalities. With Gianluca joining us in person, we’ll have the opportunity to hear firsthand about the vineyards, the wines, and the family philosophy behind them.
BACKGROUND
MONFORTE D' ALBA, PIEDMONT, ITALY
In the heart of the Langhe, Monforte d’Alba has long been recognized as one of Barolo's great villages. Its hillsides are home to some of the appellation’s most prestigious vineyards, where differences in soil, exposure, and elevation contribute to wines known for their structure, elegance, aromatic complexity, and remarkable ability to age.
It is here, among the vineyards of Gavarini and Ginestra, that the story of Elio Grasso unfolds. A story that begins not in a winery, but in a bank in Turin.
FROM BANKING TO BAROLO
In the 1970s, Elio Grasso had a secure career in finance, far removed from the uncertainties of growing grapes in Piedmont. Yet his family had cultivated land in Monforte d’Alba for generations, and his connection to those vineyards remained strong.
In 1978, Elio decided to leave banking behind and return to his family’s agricultural roots. Rather than continuing to sell the family’s grapes, he began producing and bottling his own wines, recognizing the potential of the individual vineyards he had inherited.
His approach was rooted in a simple conviction: to make great wine, one must first be a great grape grower.
The Grasso family’s vineyards had already been recognized for their quality long before Elio began making wine. In fact, parcels belonging to the estate appeared on the maps of the Langhe’s finest vineyards compiled by historian Lorenzo Fantini in the early 20th century.
Elio wasn’t setting out to reinvent Barolo. He aimed to build on the knowledge of previous generations while letting each vineyard's distinct character emerge in the finished wines.
THE VINEYARDS: AN AMPHITHEATER OF TERROIR
Today, the estate encompasses 42 hectares, of which only 18 are planted with vines. The remaining 24 hectares consist of forests and meadows surrounding the vineyards, a natural landscape the family considers essential to the land's balance.
At the center of the property lies a remarkable natural amphitheater, where the vineyards of Gavarini Chiniera and Ginestra Casa Matè occupy neighboring south-facing slopes.
Although close to one another, these vineyards produce distinctly different expressions of Nebbiolo.
Gavarini Chiniera, higher on the hillside with sandier soils, shows floral and herbal aromas and finesse. Ginestra Casa Matè, located lower down on more clay-rich soils, produces wines with greater richness, depth of fruit, and power.
The estate also produces Barolo Rüncot Riserva, sourced from a clay-rich, calcareous vineyard just below the family home.
The decision to vinify these vineyards separately, beginning in 1978, became one of Elio Grasso's defining principles. Rather than blending away their differences, the family sought to preserve them.
TRADITION, WITHOUT STANDING STILL
Today, Elio’s son Gianluca Grasso carries the family’s work forward, maintaining its commitment to traditional Barolo while recognizing the importance of thoughtful innovation.
The estate’s approach is perhaps best understood through Gianluca’s belief that tradition itself is built upon the innovations of previous generations.
In the cellar, this philosophy translates into careful, unhurried winemaking. The single-vineyard Barolos Gavarini Chiniera and Ginestra Casa Matè mature in large Slavonian oak casks, while the Rüncot Riserva undergoes an extended period of aging. Each wine is given the time and attention needed to develop before release.
The family’s respect for its surroundings extends beyond the vineyards. When neighboring woodland bordering Gavarini Chiniera became available for purchase, Gianluca chose to preserve the forest rather than clear it for additional vineyard plantings.
It was a decision that reflected something fundamental about the estate: the belief that protecting the land is as important as cultivating it.
Despite its reputation, Elio Grasso remains a family-run winery, producing no more than approximately 90,000 bottles annually, allowing the family to oversee every stage of production.
Check out the lineup for this tasting:
- Elio Grasso Educato Langhe Chardonnay 2025
- Elio Grasso - Dolcetto d'Alba 'Dei Grassi' 2024
- Elio Grasso - Barbera d'Alba 'Vigna Martina' 2023
- Elio Grasso - Langhe Nebbiolo 'Gavarini' 2025
- Elio Grasso - Barolo Ginestra Casa Mate 2020
- Elio Grasso - Barolo Gavarini Chiniera 2020
Photo Credits: Elio Grasso