Terroir Summary:
Valpolicella can be divided into three broad macro-zones. At the highest elevations, at the foot of the Lessini Mountains, limestone soils and wooded areas have long been associated with stone and marble quarrying. Below this lies the hillside belt, where limestone, volcanic and alluvial soils support viticulture alongside olive groves and orchards. On the valley floor, clay and alluvial deposits over limestone give way to a mixed agricultural landscape of vineyards, farms and rural settlements. This geological diversity is matched by a wide range of microclimates: temperatures shift markedly through the seasons, with regular winter snow contrasting with summer averages above 30°C, sometimes reaching 35°C. Higher-altitude valleys benefit from cool northerly breezes, while the lower-lying belt is generally more humid.
The Soave region is one of Italy’s historic heartlands for white wine production. Its landscape is defined by distinctive cone-shaped hills rising to around 400 metres above sea level, with soils dominated by basaltic tuff of volcanic origin. Running north to south through the area, a series of small valleys open onto broader, flatter land, where limestone soils and loose alluvial deposits also appear. The climate is generally mild and temperate, with rainfall concentrated more in spring and autumn, while cool breezes descending from the northern plateau help preserve freshness in the vineyards.
Heritage:
Masi is a leading producer of Amarone and has long interpreted the values of the Venetian regions with passion. Its story begins in 1772, when the Boscaini family carried out their first harvest in the prized vineyards of Vaio dei Masi, a valley in the heart of Valpolicella Classica whose name gave the company its identity. Since then, Masi has gradually expanded through successive acquisitions in the finest historic production areas of the Venetian regions. A major step came in 1973 with the collaboration with the Conti Serego Alighieri, descendants of Dante, followed by partnerships with Conti Bossi Fedrigotti in Trentino in 2007 and Canevel in Valdobbiadene in 2016, strengthening Masi’s role as a wider ambassador of fine wines from the Venezie.
Philosophy:
Masi uses mainly native grape varieties and traditional production methods supported by continuous research and technological development. At the centre of this approach is Masi’s recognised expertise in Appassimento, the traditional drying technique that concentrates colour, aroma and flavour and remains fundamental to the house style. For Masi, innovation is not the opposite of tradition, but the means by which tradition remains alive: through the work of the Masi Technical Group, the company continuously refines viticulture and winemaking while safeguarding indigenous grapes and historic practices. The same philosophy guides vineyard expansion, with Masi selecting hillside and foothill sites of proven historic suitability and extending from Valpolicella into Trentino, Friuli, Valdobbiadene, Tuscany, Oltrepò Pavese and Argentina in search of terroirs that can express local character with authenticity and quality. Sustainability is embedded throughout this model, from biodiversity-focused vineyard work and mechanical weeding to environmental certification, renewable energy use and responsibly sourced packaging.
People:
Masi remains a family company, today led across the sixth, seventh and eighth generations of the Boscaini family. Sandro Boscaini, the sixth generation and President of Masi Agricola, is widely associated with the modern international identity of Amarone and with Masi’s long-term vision for the Venetian regions. Raffaele Boscaini, representing the seventh generation, guides the work of the Masi Technical Group, the cross-disciplinary team of oenologists, agronomists, quality specialists and technical experts that drives research, vineyard development and winemaking innovation across the estates. Together, the family leadership and Technical Group link historic vineyard knowledge with ongoing experimentation, ensuring that Masi’s wines remain both regionally authentic and technically progressive.
Beyond the Vine:
Beyond its wines, Masi has long positioned itself as a custodian of the wider culture of the Venetian regions, promoting not only viticulture but also the history, values and creative heritage of Veneto through its estates, hospitality projects and the work of the Masi Foundation. This cultural commitment is embodied most clearly in Possessioni Serego Alighieri, the historic Valpolicella estate acquired by Pietro Alighieri, son of Dante, in 1353 and still linked to his descendants today. Since beginning its collaboration with the Conti Serego Alighieri in 1973, Masi has helped preserve and elevate this extraordinary estate as both a living symbol of Valpolicella’s winemaking heritage and a place where visitors can experience the deep continuity between wine, land and Venetian culture.
