Corte Merci

The Enchanting Location

We are located in the heart of Valpolicella, in the hills of Jago di Negrar, just 20 km from the historic centre of Verona. From our outdoor terrace, you can admire the gentle heights of the valley that embrace the city of Romeo and Juliet. On a clear day, you will be surprised to recognise the imposing chain of the Apennines, enjoying the beauty of Italy from this enchanting spot.

Our History

The Merci family has always been a family of winegrowers, handing down the courage and determination to create wealth through wine for generations. To speak of us as a mere brand does not do justice to our history, as Merci represents not just a surname, but a family with deep roots. It is thanks to our ancestors, guided by our parents and followed by our brothers, Marco and Nicola, that we have grown up and gone through the entire wine production chain, right up to the final marketing and direct sale.

Passion handed down

It all began with our great-grandfather, who passed on to us his passion for the vineyard. It was he who handed over the land to us and brought up a family entirely dedicated to the love of nature and its resources. In 1957, our grandfather Giovanni, with a far-sighted vision, moved to the hills of Jago di Negrar, near Colle Masua, to cultivate and produce wine in an environment and on land more suitable for optimising the harvest.

From Wines for the Territory to Wines for the World

The first wine produced by our grandfather had the simple aim of making the locals and wandering travellers happy. It was sold in the local inns and taverns, but also to neighbours and countrymen who appreciated his love of the land. As time went by, thanks to his experience, wine production increased, allowing our grandfather to introduce himself and supply restaurants. From then on, our wine was able to satisfy even the most sophisticated and curious palates of tourists and travellers.

The Agritourism

In 1992, our parents founded the agritourism in the Valpolicella Classica area, becoming a guarantee for the territory and, at the same time, for the wine. For more than 20 years we have been harvesting grapes and producing wine mainly for the farm's own consumption and to satisfy the needs of our guests.

The Success of "Corte Merci"

Thanks to our meticulous efforts in serving and promoting our wine, we have achieved great results and encouraging reviews. In 2015, with the support of our parents, my brother Nicola and I decided to dedicate ourselves completely to the winemaking of grapes in order to enter the national and international market with our bottled wine, signed "Corte Merci".

Our Modern Structure

Our recently built winery is equipped with state-of-the-art systems. It is spread over two floors, with specific spaces dedicated to each stage of production.

On the ground floor, you will find the equipment for conferring and crushing the grapes, as well as steel tanks with a controlled temperature system for the fermentation phase.

The basement is designed to ensure adequate storage and ageing of the wine, maintaining a constant temperature that minimises the impact of external variations. This is where the steel barrels are located for the first ageing of the wine, and the medium-sized wooden barrels for the second ageing of the Amarone and Ripasso, according to the time required. We also have rooms specifically dedicated to drying and an area equipped with machinery for bottling and labelling.

The Grape Harvest

Passion and Tradition. We personally harvest all the grapes that enter the winery, following the tradition of harvesting by hand. Throughout the entire wine-growing season, we perform manual thinnings on the vegetation and the bunches of grapes to guarantee the quality of the grapes produced and to obtain a wine of ever-increasing quality each year.

Withering and Crushing

Harvesting takes place in two distinct phases: selection for drying and harvesting for immediate crushing.

In the selection for drying, we identify the best bunches, which are placed individually in boxes, called 'plotò', and placed in the naturally ventilated drying room. These first grapes rest for at least 2 months before being crushed and used for the production of Recioto and Amarone.

Harvesting for immediate crushing is done by hand, picking the grapes remaining on the rows after the first selection. These grapes are transported to the winery in small loads to preserve the most delicate berries and are pressed immediately to avoid uncontrolled fermentation.

Come and Taste Our Wines!