Whoever has been here, talks about Filippi’s winery as a special, out of time place: apparently as much as his owner, an unconventional entrepreneur who inherited his historic family’s properties in the Colli Scaligeri and started to produce his very own wine in 1992. Often depicted as a lone wolf, Filippo Filippi is committed to producing a wine that fully reflects Soave’s terroir, rather than the DOC Soave. Inspired by Castelcerino’s beautiful landscape, he strives to make wines according to the precepts of organic farming, respecting the natural cycles of the vines and the sustainability of the environment.
With hills reaching 400 metres above sea level, those of Castelcerino are the highest vineyards in the Soave area. Surrounded by woods, the indigenous grape varieties (above all Garganega), are cultivated according to Pergola Veronese method and divided in three cru: Castelcerino, Monteseroni and Vigna della Brà. As a matter of fact, the grape varies according to the soil composition, that’s volcanic and rich of basaltic rocks in the first case, limestone loaded in Monteseroni, charcterized by a mix of basaltic rocks and limestone in Vigna della Brà.
These pristine lands, located at the border with Soave Classico and pretty close to Valpolicella, are usually windy, difficult to reach and populated by wild boars, while Filippi’s estate, built by a Florentine noble family in 1300, is literally a step back in time.
Despite the small production (around 50,000 bottles a year), Filippi’s savoury and mineral wines have a strong character and are extremely pleasant, without being trivial or forseeable.
While visiting the winery, you might happen to taste a delicious bite of Monte Veronese dop, a typical cheese produced in Lessinia, the mountainous area north of Verona. In this territory, fertile and rich of pastures, cattle breeding tradition gets back to Medieval time, when cheese was used as a bargaining chip. If you are lucky enough to meet Paola Giagulli, Filippi’s partner and President of the Syndicate for the Protection of Monte Veronese dop, she will be able to explain the history of this precious cheese and its different types.
In case you’d like to extend your stay, next to the winery there’s a 4 apartments guesthouse, as well as a campsite.
In this beautiful place and upon request, Have a Glass in Venice organizes private tastings, usually involving walks through the vineyards and woods.
For more info visit: http://www.cantinafilippi.it/