Graziano Merotto, 80 years of Prosecco and passion

The legacy of a visionary

It was 1972 when Graziano Merotto started his adventure, from then on he would “eat, drink and sleep with Prosecco.”, his words. After the first refermentati in the bottle, come in ’78 the first Martinotti method from Glera and in ’80 the first classic method from Pinot Blanc grapes.

Over the years Graziano has surrounded himself with trusted collaborators and sincere affections. First and foremost is his wife Rossella, who passed away unexpectedly a year ago, and whose presence continues to be alive in the Merotto house and at Merotto Space. To her, in 2025, a special wine is dedicated: a Metodo Classico from Pinot Noir, from the vineyard in front of the company headquarters.

Merotto Space: welcome and identity

Opened in 2019, Merotto Space welcomes thousands of visitors from all over the world. In addition to the quality and personality of the wines, what is striking is the family atmosphere, thanks to the sunshine of Graziano and his team: the smile of Claudia at tastings, the drive of Sonia at Italy sales, and the freshness of Chiara at foreign sales.

Today at Graziano’s side is – most importantly – his grandson Nicola, 21, a student in Conegliano, who enjoys a decidedly exclusive gym where he can train and experiment thanks in part to an exceptional supervisor, oenologist Mark Merotto – namesake, but not relative. Almost a sign of fate to seal a collaboration that has been going on for decades and has not yet run out of steam in terms of creativity.

Two wines for a special anniversary

To celebrate the first 80 years of Graziano (let’s be clear, he is not feeling it), the winery presents two new labels:

• the Metodo Classico Rosé(lla), a Pas Dosé from Pinot Noir dedicated to his wife;
• a special edition of Cuvée del Fondatore Graziano Merotto 80-year-old Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Rive di Col San Martino Brut 2024, with 10 months of aging on the lees in autoclaves.

A way to remember that time, in wine as in life, is an essential ingredient and if one knows how to be patient it can only be improving, even if this wine is called Prosecco Superiore.

Cuvée del Fondatore: the soul of Col San Martino

To finally meet Graziano is to meet a man vital and energetic, authentic, in love with his work and his land. His wines are rich in personality, diverse yet harmoniously contextualized together.

A highlight is the Cuvée that bears his name and originates from one of the 43 “banks” of Valdobbiadene: Col San Martino. The banks identify hilly subzones where heroic vineyards are cultivated on ciglioni, a kind of terracing made not through the use of stones but of topsoil. Here the plants with their root systems are in symbiosis with the soil that hosts them.

Col San Martino is clayey and deep, facing southwest, and here the Glera grapes undergo a double reasoned ripening (DMR), that is, 20-30% over-ripening on the vine with shoot cutting and a single harvest when the entire vineyard reaches maturity

The must undergoes a single fermentation, the result is a Valdobbiadene Docg with a persistent mousse and silky perlage, highly perfumed on the nose, balanced on the palate, and remarkably able to age in the bottle.

Graziano proposed a vertical (2018 – 20 – 21 – 22 – 24) that confirms the positive evolution and longevity of this label. A modern Prosecco, both immediate and long-lived, accessible in price, easy to understand without ever being banal, versatile and with a naturally low alcohol content.

Rosé(lla): love in a bottle

Metodo Classico Rosé(lla) Pas Dosé 2022 is Graziano’s most intimate dedication to his wife Rossella. Told with sensitivity by Roberto Racca, the company’s strategy consultant, the wine is made from 100% destemmed Pinot Noir, with short maceration in the press.

First disgorged for Graziano’s 80th birthday, it will be released in 2026 after 36 months on the lees. Without dosage, it comes in a very elegant rose petal color. Tastes of Pinot Noir, with its notes of small red fruits on the nose and hints of apricot on the palate, very elegant perlage, taut and savory .

The word Rosé is clear to all, for a few, however, it is the three additional letters that make up the name of she who was and still is part of a project that is never tired of moving forward. The return to the origins with the bottle refermentation by Graziano Merotto tells the story of an area whose producers believe in potential and prove it with facts.

Nicholas and the future

Young Nicholas begins his adventure with Royam, a Passito Igt from Glera grapes resulting from late harvesting and drying in crates until December. Fermentation of more than 50 days, 20 of which on the skins, and an unexpectedly modern sensory profile: bright gold color, scents of dried apricot, freshness and slightly bitter finish.

An amazing debut that bodes well for the future of the Merotto family. On the other hand, the future is now his and I hope it can always smile on him.

Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Rive di Col San Martino Brut Cuvée del Fondatore Graziano Merotto 80 years 2024

Score: 95/100
Average price in wine shop: € 21,00

100% Glera. About 30% DMR (double maturation reasoned) in the vineyard. Martinotti method, 10 months in autoclave, 7 g/l sugar. Straw yellow with creamy, steady perlage. Nose with floral notes, chamomile, and jasmine green tea sensations. Pleasant acidity on the palate with excellent persistence of brambly fruits. Balanced drinking.

Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Dry La Primavera di Barbara 2024

Score: 93/100
Average price in wine shop: € 15,00

90% Glera, 10% Perera. Martinotti method, 20 g/l sugar. Pale straw yellow, dense perlage. Pleasantly floral nose, with deeper notes plus citrus. The palate impacts with its creaminess but glides nimbly away leaving a pleasant candied citrus memory as it passes through. Delicious and perfectly balanced.