Falesco

"Even if each vintage has a different characteristic, our wines always have one common component: their origin and our understanding of how best to transport them from the vineyard to the glass," Riccardo Cotarella tells us in conversation. He and his brother Renzo Cotarella are no strangers on the Italian wine scene. Over the years, the two renowned oenologists have received significant recognition for their work at numerous successful wineries.

Their passion for wine is deeply rooted between the regions of Lazio and Umbria. With the foundation of their own winery Falesco in Montefiascone (Lazio) in 1979, the brothers realized a very personal ambition. Their aim was to continue the once glorious days of the wine-growing areas stretching across the regions of Lazio and Umbria and to counteract the gradual decline in wine production.

The Falesco winery, together with other top producers, initiated the long-awaited renaissance of the historic Lazio wine region. The hilly area around Montefiascone is home to historical vineyards with a sandy subsoil, where autochthonous grape varieties such as Roscetto, Aleatico, Trebbiano and Malvasia are grown, as well as some international varieties. These exceptional wines demonstrate the qualitative potential of the region, which enjoys a mild climate and high temperature variations between day and night.

With the acquisition of some vineyards in Umbria, the Cotarella portfolio was expanded with new, impressive labels. Merlot, Sangiovese, Verdicchio and Vermentino vines thrive on 260 hectares of calcareous clay soil. In the Umbrian town of Montecchio, the brothers built a state-of-the-art wine cellar in 2004 and, in collaboration with the University of Tuscia in Viterbo, they are experimenting with varieties such as Nero d'Avola, Primitivo, Malbec and Tannat.

Their success can be attributed to two main factors: The Cotarella brothers are dedicated to researching and selecting old grape variety clones and, by investing in the latest state-of-the-art technology, aim to perfect wine production every year. In addition to this highly scientific approach, Renzo and Riccardo trust in the far-reaching potential of their respective growing areas and carefully work to identify those vineyards that can guarantee a particularly high quality of wine.

The Cotarella family now represents an intergenerational winemaking tradition: Dominga, Marta and Enrica Cotarella - a new and third generation - have officially taken over the management of the family winery with the same enthusiasm as their fathers. Today, the family's efforts have resulted in a wide range of impressive wines and labels that are not limited to the regions of Umbria and Lazio. They last acquired the Le Macioche winery in Montalcino, Tuscany in 2017. SUPERIORE.DE