the cellar
A heritage of passion,
cultivated over generations
MONTE DELLE VIGNE IS A STORY OF LOVE: LOVE FOR THE LAND, GUIDED BY RESPECT FOR NATURE AND LOCAL TRADITION
back to their original aspect described by Frà Salimbene de Adam, a friar lived in the Middle Ages, in his “Cronache Medievali”. Viticulture is carried out with the same organic approach used so far while Paolo starts also to look for modern technologies allowing to exploit natural forces, such as gravity, for winemaking activities.
Paolo Pizzarotti was just nineteen when he inherited the estate in Parma Hills, which, expanded and developed over time, became Monte delle Vigne. From the very beginning, he cultivated alfalfa and wheat and raised Dutch Friesian cows, managing production organically long before certification even existed.
In 2003, upon joining Monte delle Vigne, he chose to plant Barbera and Malvasia to restore Parma Hills to the appearence described by Fra Salimbene de Adam in his Medieval Chronicles. Paolo's passion for organic farming and high-quality winemaking was renewed, driving the pursuit of advanced methods to counter climate change and elevate the quality of his wines.
"It is not an easy journey, but an incredibly rewarding one, and I intend to pursue it with all my strength," Paolo Pizzarotti says, describing the growth of Monte delle Vigne: a story of love for the land, guided by respect for nature and tradition. A dream that has now become reality.
1983
The beginnings
The Monte delle Vigne adventure began in 1983, in the heart of Parma Hills DOC. It all started with a 7-hectare vineyard, a small cellar, and the determination to produce wine, focusing primarily on the native Barbera and Malvasia grapes, vinified still, with the utmost respect for the surrounding environment.
1992
The birth of Nabucco...
Nine year after its founding, Monte delle Vigne created Nabucco, the first still red wine produced in Parma. A blend of Barbera and Merlot, it is aged for twelve months in French oak barriques. From the very beginning, Nabucco became a symbol of both the estate and the Parma wine region, which until then had been known only for sparkling wines.
1999
...and of Callas
A few years after Nabucco came Callas: 100% Malvasia di Candia Aromatica, the quintessential white grape of Parma Hills. A wine of extraordinary longevity, fresh, mineral, and elegant.
2003
A turning point: the arrival of Paolo Pizzarotti
The winery's activity continued to grow: grape production tripled, and the need to compete on international markets called for innovation and change. Paolo Pizzarotti, owner of a 100-hectare estate neighboring Monte delle Vigne, joined as majority partner, marking the beginning of a new era of energy and momentum.
2005
Expanding the vineyards
Five new hectares of vineyard were planted each year for the next four years. By the end of 2009, the total vineyard area had reached 40 hectares, divided among Malvasia, Sauvignon, and Chardonnay for the white grapes, and Barbera, Merlot, Croatina, Lambrusco, and Cabernet Franc for the red grapes.
2006
The new underground cellar
In 2006, we inaugurated our new underground cellar, maintaining a constant temperature and equipped with a geothermal system and rainwater recovery for irrigation. All these features reinforce our commitment to sustainable winemaking.
2007
Rubina
Our new label is Rubina, a rosé sparkling wine made from Barbera grapes vinified as a white wine.
2010
Franc
"Chiuso del Lago" is a 1.3-hectare vineyard, completely surrounded by forest with a stunning lake at its base. From this vineyard, in 2010 we produced 50 hectolitres of Cabernet Franc: a true Emilian interpretation of this great grape variety.
2012
I Calanchi
I Calanchi is the first Lambrusco DOC Colli di Parma made from Lambrusco Maestri, a variety native to Parma. According to Ian d'Agata in his Native Wine Grapes of Italy, it is "the most fruity, creamy, and immediately appealing Lambrusco, if not also the deepest and most complex of them all."
2016
A new chapter: embracing organic farming
Our philosophy found its natural expression in the launch of a sustainable path guided by organic farming, which ultimately led to certification.
2020
The renewed leadership of the estate
We renewed the Board of Directors, now composed of Paolo Pizzarotti as President, his son Michele as Board Member, Lorenzo Numanti as CEO, and Andrea Bonini overseeing production in both the vineyard and the cellar.
2021
The first organic harvest
Monte delle Vigne's sustainable journey, begun in 2016, reaches its milestone: from 2021, the harvest is fully organic and certified by ICEA - the Institute for Ethical and Environmental Certification.
2022
Introducing the Vini della Prosa
The new labels celebrate our transition to organic farming and an ever-closer connection with Parma Hills. These distinctive wines have been crafted to express the terroir of Ozzano Taro: Brusata, Il Chiuso, Ginestra, and Quattro Laghi.
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