Vini Simonetti

The Vini Simonetti estate was founded in 1950 and has been making Verdicchio at Staffolo ever since. Dino Simonetti, together with his wife Maria Schiavoni, started with one hectare of vineyard in the Castellaretta district. That first hectare is still in production today and forms the base of the Staphylè.

Around the turn of the millennium, as the grandchildren gradually joined the business, the focus shifted to making bottled wine. The Staphylè was first bottled in 1999, setting the pace for a new course aimed at quality wine.

Michele, Mirco and Massimo, Dino's grandsons, now run the estate, following the path begun by their grandfather. A path that has led to organic conversion, reduced sulphur in the wines, and cellar practices that respect the raw material, the land and the final consumer.

Winemaking is done separately for each plot, starting with the gentle pressing of the grapes, from which only the free-run must is selected. Ageing takes place in steel and concrete, to preserve the characteristics of the grape variety and of each plot.

A historic estate of the municipality of Staffolo, Vini Simonetti also looks to the future, with plans for a tasting room overlooking the old Staphylè vineyard, the refinement of its Metodo Classico production from Verdicchio grapes, and the making of wines of great elegance and longevity.

Territory and Verdicchio. Staffolo and Verdicchio have always gone hand in hand. Staffolo, and especially the Castellaretta district, where the cellar and most of the vineyards are found, always yields wines of good structure and great savouriness. The soils are sandy-clay and above all rich in calcium carbonate. Staffolo's 442 metres above sea level also help create good day-night temperature swings at harvest time, which give the wines finesse and elegance. Staffolo is without doubt one of the crus of Verdicchio, and Castellaretta is surely a grand cru. Verdicchio is among Italy's most prestigious white grapes. In youth it is angular, with acidity and savouriness that encourage drinking. It peaks after some time in bottle, where it gains complexity and elegance and smooths its edges. Verdicchio makes fresh, agile wines, structured and important wines, and Metodo Classico of great finesse and complexity.