Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio Winery in Marsciano (Umbria), Italy

Posted by Rowena Dumlao Rowena Dumlao - Giardina 7/15/2018

Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio Winery in Marsciano (Umbria), Italy

As you maneuver the electric cart from the winery to the higher part of the town where you pass the town's church, go through a dusty country road with lots of green then veering to the left, a beautiful corridor of perfectly trimmed hedgerow and old olive trees and finally, to Vigna Lorenzo, the important vineyard of Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio Winery dating back from 217 B.C. bordered by ancient Roman walls and with a breathtaking backdrop of the Umbrian landscape, you wonder: can't a winery visit be more phenomenal than this?

Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio is a winery ran by the noble family Fasola Bologna that has myriads of interesting facets. It has a production of extra virgin olive oil, wines, all-natural skin care products extracted from olive trees and the first zero greenhouse gas emission farm since 2009 from their pioneer project 360° Green Evolution.

Andrea Fasola Bologna, patriarch of the noble family whose ancestors have lived in Castello di Monte Vibiano Vecchio since 1892, started the modernization of the wine and oil production in the 1960s, in continuation of the family's activities from the 19th century. In 1998, his son, Lorenzo, who is the acting CEO of the company now, along with his sister Maria Camilla, took over and metamorphosed the family tradition to a new winery that can easily stay side by side with the other members of the wine making society.

Having created the project 360° Green Revolution, the winery runs on solar panels and with the plantation of more than 10,000 forest trees that surround the vineyards to boost the absorption of carbon emissions coming from their premises. Simply said, forest trees absorb carbon dioxide and convert it to oxygen which is then released into the atmosphere. This environment is optimum for the growth of the grapes and olives in purest conditions to produce very high quality wines and extra virgin olive oil.

Having grown themselves in the area, Lorenzo and Maria Camilla's love for their land reflects their company's values. Umbria is a region where culture, tradition and love for nature are important factors for its inhabitants. For this reason they have dedicated themselves in preserving the uniqueness of Umbria by safeguarding their surroundings and taking out the best that the land produces. Traditional values intertwine with modern techniques and that's what Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio is working on.

Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio has 40 hectares of vineyards that surround the castle where they grow different grape varieties which include Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Merlot, Grechetto, Trebbiano, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier.

From these grapes, they produce six diverse white, rosè and red wines that mirror the characteristics of their land and vinification techniques. Out of the six, I was tasted four which are:

Maria Camilla is their flagship white wine which is a blend of Grechetto, Trebbiano, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. Straw yellow in color with greenish reflections, its freshness and youth makes it a very pleasant and easy white wine to drink with simple seafood or as is on warm summer nights. In the nose, the varieties of grapes contribute to its fruity, floral, minerals and herbaceous aromas which is well equilibrated with the palate. The Viognier gives a very delicate touch in the end.

Maryam is a rosè wine obtained from 100% Sangiovese grapes with a beautiful soft rose color attained from 3 hours of skin contact. It shows a good complexity of aromas of minerals, flowers, herbs, light stone fruits, strawberries, and apples. Like the nose, it gives the same pleasure of complexity, sapidity, moderate freshness and persistence in the palate.  

MonVì 2014 is a Colli Perugini Rosso DOC made from a blend of top quality but younger red varieties, Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Approximately 2/3 of the wine is aged for 6 months in stainless steel tanks while 1/3 is aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. It was bottle aged for another 6 months before it was released for sale. Its 2010 vintage won the silver medal in the 2016 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. Complex aromas of mature dark stone fruits, spices, and toasted notes.   

L'Andrea is a Colli Perugini Rosso DOC made from the best grapes in the vineyards. A blend of Sangiovese, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and other red varieties, this deep ruby red wine had its malolactic fermentation in French oak barrique after its alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel vats. Aged in French oak barrique for 14 months, 2 - 3 months in stainless steel and finally, 12 months in bottles before it was released to the market. Ample complexity and intensity in the nose which is well equilibrated in the palate. Smooth, warm, full-bodied and good persistence in the mouth.