The wine culture at Villa Cavalletti stems from the relationship between the historic vineyard, the volcanic terrain of the Castelli Romani, and a collaborative effort developed with associations, experts, and institutions.
An initial opportunity for discussion was the roundtable titled“Viticulture and Oenology of the Laziale Volcano,”held on December 7, 2021. Experts and industry professionals began by analyzing local production to identify a solid foundation for addressing the challenges posed by the market and the European Union.
The event was opened by Tiziana Torelli, president of the Vignaioli in Grottaferrata Association. Winemakers, agronomists, and researchers took part in the discussion, which was moderated by journalist and sommelier Luca Grippo. The event concluded with a tasting session featuring wines from the Vignaioli in Grottaferrata Association.
In 2022, Villa Cavalletti hosted the ONAV entry-level course for wine tasters, organized in collaboration with the Vignaioli Association in Grottaferrata. The course, which is also open to enthusiasts with no prior experience, was designed to provide an understanding of wine from the vine to the bottle and to teach participants how to taste it with discernment.
The program included sixteen theoretical and practical sessions led by instructors from the National Organization of Wine Tasters, as well as tastings of over fifty wines. The sessions covered tasting techniques, olfactory memory, grapevines, winemaking, aging, and regional wine history. The course concluded with a visit to a winery, the final exam, and the presentation of diplomas.
The partnership between production and research continued with OENOMED, a European project dedicated to the sustainable development of the wine supply chains in the Mediterranean’s Protected Areas. Villa Cavalletti was selected as the winner with a proposal for the sustainable enhancement of its historic vineyard, based on technological and agronomic choices aimed at reducing water use, protecting biodiversity, and restoring native plant species.
The project, led by the Castelli Romani Regional Park, brought together public institutions from Italy, France, Tunisia, and Lebanon. This collaboration highlighted the potential for synergy between protected areas and high-quality viticulture, with a particular focus on the Castelli Romani.
Roundtable discussions, training, and European projects thus come together to form a single path: learning about wine and developing production methods that protect vineyards, biodiversity, and the identity of the region.
Purchase Villa Cavalletti products at our estate or online at: https://www.villacavalletti.it/azienda-agricola/