A PORTRAIT OF THE WINERY

Contemporary tradition. This may seem like an oxymoron, but it is a perfect introduction to the story of Monte Vibiano. If olive oil and wine have always been the main products of the Fasola Bologna family estate, it must be said that it wasn’t until 1998 that it truly took off into a whole new dimension, that is, when the youthful passion of Lorenzo redesigned the business and set some solid objectives for it, aiming at creating products that could distinguish themselves on the market by blending modern enological methods with the estate’s, and the territory’s, ages-old traditions. A new cantina was soon built and from there it was a short step, and a lot of hard work, to the first official grape harvest in 2003. Over the past few years the Monte Vibiano brand has become famous and much appreciated by the airline business, to which it supplies extra-virgin olive oil for the business and first class passengers of some of the world’s most important airlines. But perhaps more importantly, DNV awarded it the ISO 14064 Environmental Certification (never before awarded to an agricultural concern) for its efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is the first winemaker on earth with “zero emissions”, and it is located right here on our Umbrian hills between Marsciano and Perugia.

THE VINEYARD AND TERROIR

The estate boasts a total of 500 hectares, of which 35 are in the DOC Colli Perugini district. The terrain has a medium consistency, featuring clayey limestone, with some areas containing fine gravel. Its location on the slopes and tops of hills, and its warm climate, are the ideal characteristics needed for growing healthy grapes.

THE GRAPE VARIETIES GROWN

Most of the vineyards are dedicated to black grapes, from sangiovese to cabernet sauvignon and franc, and from sagrantino to merlot, and even some syrah. The white grapes they grow are typical of the area – trebbiano and grechetto – but they also grow the somewhat more exotic sauvignon blanc.

WINES

L’Andrea is a Colli Perugini Rosso DOC with a sangiovese base and healthy doses of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah. Fermented in steel vats, the wine is aged for 12 months in barriques and then for another year in the bottle. It is a wellstructured red wine which can be kept for a long time and goes very well with flavourful dishes. Monvì belongs to the same DOC appellation and is made with sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon and merlot.