Often when we are visited by people at the winery or doing tastings we hear, “But you do tastings just like in Tuscany!”
I do not know whether to take this phrase as a compliment or as an insult: we producers in Lazio are not the Cinderellas of viticulture and our professionalism is not inferior to that of any other region. Period.
On the contrary, we have our own style, which must become known absolutely. A few years ago, we called it the Cesanese Lifestyle because we combine wine culture with art (including the art of living).
And now we come to our territory between the Alta Ciociaria (High Ciociaria) and the outskirts of the Campagna Romana (Roman Countryside) located in the Cesanese wine region, from where the grape variety started to spread throughout Italy. On Cesanese, there is now the Giuda by Carlo Zucchetti and Repubblica, and several intriguing books such as Piero Riccardi's “L'Enigma Cesanese.”
In this region, just a stone's throw from Rome, there are 2 DOCs and 1 DOCG denominations of the Cesanese wine. However, the areas are limited and are unique to the wine tourist. We have Cesanese del Piglio DOCG, Cesanese di Olevano DOC and Cesanese di Affile DOC: difficult to communicate to the public, a strategic mistake from the past.
Back to today and current producers, among whom are us at Donna Vittori Borgo Agricolo (www.donnavittori.com) who are perhaps the latest entrants but who have the youngest and most social winemaker of the group: Maria Vittori.
There are also other young winemakers who are revolutionizing the world of Cesanese, such as Gabriele Graia, who certainly plays a leading role. In fact, in addition to his professionalism in helping winemakers make their wine (we chose him, too), he is a connector and loves to be a team player. Gabriele organizes evenings where producers in his network meet and exchange ideas and suggestions for vineyard management in different seasons.
Last night Gabriele organized one of the evenings where each of us tasted 2024 wines to appreciate the ending of the season. He separated tastings according to the soils on which different vineyards are located: white clays, clays mixed with limestone, and red soils.
The diversities were very interesting, but to know more you have to visit us at one of the Cesanese wineries where we will guide you on a discover tour of the area’s wine culture, while also tasting real masterpieces.
In recent years the quality of the wine has reached levels of excellence, demonstrated by the many awards that were won. Wineries have opened tasting rooms and agritourism, which given the area, in some cases are proper wine resorts.
I do not know whether to take this phrase as a compliment or as an insult: we producers in Lazio are not the Cinderellas of viticulture and our professionalism is not inferior to that of any other region. Period.
On the contrary, we have our own style, which must become known absolutely. A few years ago, we called it the Cesanese Lifestyle because we combine wine culture with art (including the art of living).
And now we come to our territory between the Alta Ciociaria (High Ciociaria) and the outskirts of the Campagna Romana (Roman Countryside) located in the Cesanese wine region, from where the grape variety started to spread throughout Italy. On Cesanese, there is now the Giuda by Carlo Zucchetti and Repubblica, and several intriguing books such as Piero Riccardi's “L'Enigma Cesanese.”
In this region, just a stone's throw from Rome, there are 2 DOCs and 1 DOCG denominations of the Cesanese wine. However, the areas are limited and are unique to the wine tourist. We have Cesanese del Piglio DOCG, Cesanese di Olevano DOC and Cesanese di Affile DOC: difficult to communicate to the public, a strategic mistake from the past.
Back to today and current producers, among whom are us at Donna Vittori Borgo Agricolo (www.donnavittori.com) who are perhaps the latest entrants but who have the youngest and most social winemaker of the group: Maria Vittori.
There are also other young winemakers who are revolutionizing the world of Cesanese, such as Gabriele Graia, who certainly plays a leading role. In fact, in addition to his professionalism in helping winemakers make their wine (we chose him, too), he is a connector and loves to be a team player. Gabriele organizes evenings where producers in his network meet and exchange ideas and suggestions for vineyard management in different seasons.
Last night Gabriele organized one of the evenings where each of us tasted 2024 wines to appreciate the ending of the season. He separated tastings according to the soils on which different vineyards are located: white clays, clays mixed with limestone, and red soils.
The diversities were very interesting, but to know more you have to visit us at one of the Cesanese wineries where we will guide you on a discover tour of the area’s wine culture, while also tasting real masterpieces.
In recent years the quality of the wine has reached levels of excellence, demonstrated by the many awards that were won. Wineries have opened tasting rooms and agritourism, which given the area, in some cases are proper wine resorts.
I would now like to provide a list of all the facilities that organize guided tastings, some offering a full hospitality service where people are welcomed and lovingly introduced to the fascinating world of wine:
- Casale Verdeluna – L’Avventura (Wine Resort) https://www.casaleverdeluna.it
- Le Cerquette (Wine Resort) https://www.lecerquette.it
- Donna Vittori Borgo Agricolo (tastings, hospitality and events) www.donnavittori.com
- Pileum (tastings and catering) http://pileum.it
- Alberto Giacobbe (tastings) http://www.vinigiacobbe.it
- Petrucca e Vela (tastings) https://www.cesanese.it
- Riccardi Reale (tastings) https://cantinericcardireale.it
- Giovanni Terenzi wines (tastings) https://www.viniterenzi.com
- Rosso del Borgo (tastings) https://rossodelborgo.com
- Michael Formiconi (tastings) https://cantinaformiconi.it
- Maria Ernesta Berucci (tastings) https://www.mariaernestaberucci.com
- Mario Manciocca (tastings) https://agricolamacciocca.com
- Carlo Noro (tastings and biodynamic courses) https://biodinamicanoro.net
- Colle Gioie (degustazioni) https://www.facebook.com/Collegioie/
Soon we will also have Al Piglio (wine resort), which after Nebbiolo in Piedmont has come to plant Cesanese and should come out with its own label in short order.
At this point we are waiting for you, and I would like to suggest that you visit more than one establishment to appreciate their uniqueness. Wine is a living product that comes from the soil, the rearing of the vineyard, the aging, and the love of the winemaker. No two wines can be the same, and everyone will find their favorite one to enjoy with friends.
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