Brothers Andrea and Dario Pieropan were inspired to start a new and challenging project by their ambition to make their own red wines.
Before starting, they had to study the indigenous grape varieties and the local soils and microclimate and prepare the best vinification facilities possible.
In 1999 Pieropan family bought a property in Cellore d’Illasi, in the Valpolicella and Amarone production area and planted it with vines. The property, situated in Monte Garzon at 500 m above sea level was previously uncultivated and close to a nature reserve. Before planting the vines, an enormous amount of work was required to clear and break up the rocks below the surface. It transpired that the vineyard is perfect for the production of rich, complex and elegant wines, with soils particularly rich in limestone and clay, a perfect south facing aspect and just the right altitude. The grape varieties chosen are indigenous to this region and include Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Croatina Veronese.
The vineyard has been planted and trained using a dense, modern Guyot system, in wich each vine is deeply planted, with a small number of buds thereby restricting yields to more or less 1 kilo of grapes per plant. Vineyard husbandry is driven by respect for the microfauna and flora of the area, using biodynamic techniques where possible and eliminating the use of pesticides and herbicides, in order to preserve the balance that was present before the land was developed.
The brothers realized that the project required investment in a site that would reflect their seriousness and commitment. So the Pieropan family bought Villa Cipolla Pellegrini, an ancient eighteenth century rural residence close the property in Tregnago, which they use as a cellar for vinification and ageing. An ageing cellar has been constructed under the property’s “brolo”.