The story
of Maria Pia Castelli’s company begins in 1992 when, after a holiday on board
of their camping van, Enrico and Maria Pia discovered the wines of Burgundy and
Piedmont. One of the decisive figures behind the decision of starting their
activity is Maria Pia’s father, a highly experienced farmer and winemaker with
a strong passion.
It is Erasmo who will convince Enrico
and Maria Pia to take the plunge. Thus, after restoring their country house, in the surrounding soil they
initially planted 4 hectares of Montepulciano and Sangiovese and later, in
1999, another 4 hectares of Montepulciano and other white grape local
varieties.
By trying
to recreate the ideal habitat and with the intention of totally respecting the
surrounding nature and the soil, Enrico and Maria Pia decided to leave the
vineyards grassy (no-till farming technique) and to plant olive and fruit
trees. The aim of Enrico and Maria Pia is to produce wines which are sincere
and rich of personality and, more importantly, to create a product that is the
result of a "clean" and accurate agriculture, careful towards the
soil’s needs thanks to the use of natural fertilizers – such as the organic
compost created by the different farming productions.
Furthermore, another
fundamental element that characterizes the wine’s production is the quality of
the barrels in which the wine refines for years, quality guaranteed by the
careful choice of the best French and long-aging oak’s woods. Since then the adventure as wine makers
continues unabated by overcoming together all the adversities in order to
transform the activity in a proper lifestyle. To Erasmo we not only dedicate
our deep and profound affection and memory, but also our pure Montepulciano:
the Erasmo Castelli.
