Vini Simonetti
The Simonetti Winery was founded in 1950 and has since been dedicated to producing Verdicchio in Staffolo. Dino Simonetti, along with his wife Maria Schiavoni, began with just one hectare of vineyard in the Castellaretta district. That initial hectare is still in production today and forms the foundation of our Staphylè.
At the turn of the millennium, with the gradual involvement of Dino's grandchildren in the business, the focus shifted toward bottled wine production. Staphylè, mentioned earlier, was first bottled in 1999, marking a new direction for the company toward producing high-quality wines.
Today, Michele, Mirco, and Massimo, Dino's grandchildren, lead the company, continuing the journey their grandfather started. This journey has brought the winery to organic conversion, a reduction in sulfur levels in the wines, and winemaking practices that respect the raw materials, the land, and the final consumer.
Vinification is carried out separately for each parcel, with gentle pressing of the grapes, selecting only the free-run juice. Aging takes place in steel and cement, aiming to preserve the characteristics of the grape variety and each plot.
A historic winery in 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 classic method sparkling wine from Verdicchio grapes, and the production of wines of great elegance and longevity.
The Territory and Verdicchio
Staffolo and Verdicchio have always gone hand in hand. Staffolo, particularly the Castellaretta district, where the winery and most of the vineyards are located, consistently yields wines of good structure and great sapidity. The soils are sandy-clayey and, most importantly, rich in calcium carbonate. At 442 meters above sea level, Staffolo also benefits from significant diurnal temperature variations during harvest, which impart finesse and elegance to the wines. Without a doubt, Staffolo is one of the crus of Verdicchio, and the Castellaretta district is certainly a grand cru.
Verdicchio is one of Italy's most prestigious white grape varieties. In its youth, it is sharp, with acidity and sapidity that encourage drinking. It reaches its peak after some time in the bottle, gaining complexity and elegance while softening its edges. Verdicchio gives life to fresh and vibrant wines, structured and important wines, as well as classic method sparkling wines of great finesse and complexity.
