i. Biography
Romano Levi spent more than six decades at Distilleria Romano Levi in Neive, Italy, shaping grappa with a style that was austere, direct, and hard to mistake. From 1945 to 2008, the work stayed close to first principles: heat, fruit, fire, and the plain evidence of the still. His own words place the craft in that frame: “I make grappa: the blood of fire, the pangs of life, poetry are yours.” The line reads less like promotion than method—an exact account of a spirit that can hold force and lyricism at once. Memory also runs through the distilling culture around Romano Levi, who spoke as someone describing a landscape that had already thinned out. “Back then there were many... Usually distilleries worked with direct-fire stills.” In that recollection is a whole older rhythm of the trade: flame kept close, the distiller present, and practical knowledge handed on through use rather than theory. Levi’s work belonged to that lineage, but the tone remained his own—pared back, immediate, and unafraid of heat.
At a Glance - Craft: grappa distilling. - Career span: 1945–2008. - Workplace: Distilleria Romano Levi. - Location: Neive, Italy. - Voice: direct, elemental, and tied to the heat of the still.
Signature
Romano's signature wines include Donna Selvatica, Grappa di Barolo, Grappa Bianca, Grappa Moscato, and Grappa Paglierina. Read as a group, these names point to a compact but legible distilling vocabulary: one grounded in tradition, in grape character, and in a refusal to overstate the work. Each label is built to be remembered, while still leaving the spirit itself to carry the weight.
In Their Words “Back then there were many... Usually distilleries worked with direct-fire stills.” “I make grappa: the blood of fire, the pangs of life, poetry are yours.” Taken together, the two lines describe Romano Levi’s place in the trade more clearly than any catalog of dates could. One looks back to a time when distilling was more common and more visibly tied to flame; the other folds the work inward, making grappa into something stark, personal, and quietly poetic. Between them sits a distiller who kept faith with the material demands of the craft and with the language it could produce.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Romano
What is Romano Levi known for?
He is known for grappa distilling from 1945 to 2008.
Where does Romano Levi work?
His work was at Distilleria Romano Levi in Neive, Italy.
Who is Romano Levi?
Romano Levi was a grappa distiller whose own words linked grappa with fire, life, and poetry.
