A journey through the volcanic region of Lazio, exploring the domain of the DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) wines of Rome. This highly influential brand is accompanied by producers with an equally strong determination who come together with a common goal of promoting their local grapes, highlighting a region that is not yet widely known but holds significant potential. Here, the stories of four enterprises intersect along the way, where volcanic soils alternate between lakes, hilly areas, and cultivated plains, and tunnels and tuff caves are characteristic of this region.
Tenimenti Leone
We are located in the hills of Alba in the Lanuvio area, extending from Lanuvio towards the plains and the sea. We are a young company, relatively new to the world of wine, but we have some very clear ideas. We have turned Brescia Nota into a visitable attraction, which is an ancient farmhouse tower that was built around the year 1000 AD and can now be visited. We like to start our tours from there because we can appreciate the richness and uniqueness of this land.
From this perspective, we interpret our entire production philosophy, placing great emphasis on tradition and respect for the land, so all winemaking processes are carried out organically. We use native grape varieties as much as possible, belonging to this land and the Roman DOC area. They are the result of the ancient Lazio volcanoes, some of the most active and powerful volcanoes in history. Our vineyards are deeply rooted in this land, extracting unique characteristics from it, giving our wines a distinctive freshness and natural mineral character, thanks to the volcanic soil.
Cantinamena
In the glass, we find the volcano, we could say we find the territory. This is what gives uniqueness to the wines. Whether they are Malvasia, Cesanese, or Roma Doc, or any other wine produced by the company, inside the glass, we find the volcano. We find these mineral notes, these saline notes, these notes of chalk, flintstone, notes that add complexity to the wine but, above all, create a connection with this unique land. This land is unique because the volcano is unique, and its history is the history of a territory that originated from a volcanic eruption that occurred 35,000 years ago. This event contributed to creating the uniqueness of this territory from which such distinct and elegant wines are born.
Casa Divina Provvidenza
We are located in Nettuno, on the southern coast of Rome. It’s a land of the sea but also of a lot of wine, especially our Cacchione, which is now a historic grape variety. About twenty years ago, our company decided to bring it back into the spotlight. What will you find in our glass?
Regarding the Roma Bianco, our winemaker Marco Delli Zotti has decided to blend the Bellone, a very unique grape variety from the province of Rome, in the best possible way. As for the Roma Rosso, we’ve crafted a blend consisting of 51% Montepulciano and 49% Cesanese. For this wine, we have two different approaches, a younger one and a reserve version, which we call “200 years” to commemorate the 200th anniversary of our company in 2021. This results in a wine with 14.5% alcohol content and a beautiful structure.
La Giannettola
We are here at Tenuta La Giannettola, from which the winery gets its name. We are in Velletri, in the vicinity of the Cinque Archi area, just south of Rome. This is a winery that dates back to around the 1940s, founded with a primary focus on viticulture. The grape varieties include both white and red, some of which reflect the traditional varieties of the region. These include Trebbiano Verde as a white grape variety, Malvasia Puntinata, and Cesanese as red grape varieties.
Our work is aimed at bringing into the glass the expression of the territory, what the French call “terroir,” and for us, it’s the ecosystem, a harmony between the grape varieties, the soil, and the environment. Therefore, we work with great respect for the raw materials to introduce the end consumer to the true potential of Lazio, a region that is extremely suited to viticulture and has a winegrowing history that spans 3000 years.
