Tenute Ugolini

THE FAMILY HISTORY

The grounds and vineyards have been part of the Ugolini family since the days of my grandfather. 

Our family is made up of three brothers: (myself) Giambattista, Davide and Tiziano. When my father died, about 20 years ago, being the eldest, I decided to take the vineyards into my own hands. It was love at first sight for me, and all of us have always believed in grape cultivation at a high standard, so we invested in the purchase of south-facing vineyards.

To make the dream come true, of producing wine from our own grapes, I worked for an important Italian company, far away from home, knowing that one day I would return and work with our vineyards in Fumane. About 10 years ago, I realised that it wasn’t the right time to limit ourselves and sell all the grapes that were grown in our vineyards, but to start winemaking, bottling it and putting our family name to it. This conversion is still taking place today by improving our winemaking assets.

For many years, our main focus was an agricultural point of view - the grapevines in the hills, most of the vines were replanted. We also consider the beauty of the landscape, there are 14 kms of small walls that are continually maintained and taken care of which is very laborious. This sacrifice however, helps to preserve this particular characteristic of Valpolicella.

We have successfully just finished another project: the purchase of Corte Quaranta – an antique house with a panoramic courtyard of the rural area below the hills of San Michele, near our winery. Now it is ‘Ugolini’ house, the house of our wine. A stunning place where the door is always open to welcome visitors...

We are waiting for you, come and visit us!
Giambattista

THE PROJECT

Good wine comes from healthy grapes, which are grown and picked in an equally wholesome environment. Since the beginning, I have always placed the maximum attention on agricultural harmony working together with nature and the landscape. This is something that does not happen by chance, but through a long process of study of the environment.

A thorough soil analysis brought me to choose a graft with taproots, to allow the plants to find soil rich in stone, predominately compact marl for the correct balance of water and nutrition.

In order to help the roots go down deeper, an old style procedure called ‘Sovescio’ is used. This procedure penetrates nutrients and plants into the soil that run alongside the vines and opens up the route for the smaller vines. In the spring when the plants grow, they are cut and inserted to provide organic manure for the vines.

This is the way to make a balanced grapevine and thanks to the elimination of chemically used products, certain bird species have returned and feed from the insects dangerous to the grapes. The only agricultural ‘medicine’ used by us, are old recipes based on potassium salt, grass substances, copper and sulphur salt, propolis and garlic. It is possible to see, walk and enjoy the grapevines, the elimination of insecticides have seen the return of many insects and birds that had almost disappeared until a few years ago.

Protecting and highlighting ‘biodiversity’ not only helps the environment, but also helps the grapes, thus the wine. Grapes grown in the correct ambience are rewarded in the result.

Products Company

- Valpolicella Classico
- Valpolicella Classico Superiore
- Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore
- Amarone Classico
- Olio Extra Vergine di Oliva Veneto Valpolicella DOP