"...the hills broaden one's breath, at once close at hand and remote, known yet wondrously strange. And the wine is their enigmatic essence..." (Gianni Brera, journalist from Pavia)
Welcome to the heart of Oltrepò Pavese!
Located just 70 km from Milan, our winery is located in Oltrepò Pavese, one of Italy's most renowned wine-growing areas. This region, located in the southern triangle of Lombardy on the border with Piedmont, Emilia Romagna and Liguria, is famous for producing high quality wines and is crossed by the 45th parallel North, known as the “wine parallel” shared with prestigious regions such as Piedmont and Bordeaux. The main grape varieties grown on our farm include:- Croatina: base of the famous Bonarda wine from Oltrepò Pavese.
- Barbera: known for its lively acidity and versatility
- Pinot Nero: used for both elegant red wines and classy sparkling wines
- Cabernet Sauvignon : known to impart structure to red wines
- Riesling: giving aromatic and mineral white wines.
- Moscato: perfect for sweet and fragrant wines
An Area Rich in History and Wine Tradition
Oltrepò Pavese boasts a thousand-year history in viticulture. Inhabited since prehistoric times and later by Gallic and Ligurian peoples, it was conquered by the Romans, who introduced and developed vine cultivation as early as the 6th century BC. In 40 BC, the Greek historian Strabo described the inhabitants of the area as producing wine in large quantities, highlighting the importance of viticulture in the area. Pliny the Elder also mentioned the wine prosperity of Clastidium, today's Casteggio. During the Middle Ages, Oltrepò Pavese became a crossroads of cultures and traditions. The Lombards, choosing Pavia as the capital of their kingdom, encouraged the spread of viticulture, thanks in part to Queen Teodolinda : in 614, the queen granted some land in the Bobbio territory to a group of monks from Burgundy, who reintroduced the cultivation of vines after the devastation that followed the fall of the Roman Empire. Over the centuries, the territory was divided among various noble families from northern Italy, enriching itself with castles and historic mansions, such as those of Zavattarello, Montecalvo and Cigognola, witnesses to the region's rich cultural heritage. Today, Oltrepò Pavese is recognized as one of the world's most important areas for the production of high-quality Pinot Noir and sparkling wines, continuing to consolidate its reputation in the international wine scene.
photo by Davide Biagi
