Valle Reale and San Calisto: A 360-Degree Vineyard Experience in Abruzzo

Posted by Rowena Dumlao Rowena Dumlao - Giardina 11/07/2024

Valle Reale and San Calisto: A 360-Degree Vineyard Experience in Abruzzo

Valle Reale is a vineyard estate nestled in the mountainous region of Abruzzo, Italy, where the Pizzoli family has cultivated a legacy of sustainable winemaking. Established by Leonardo Pizzoli in 1999, Valle Reale stands out for its commitment to organic practices and its distinct microclimate, which brings out the unique character of each grape. The 46-hectare estate is known for its biodynamic approach, with vineyards situated between the majestic peaks of the Maiella National Park. Valle Reale also includes San Calisto, an inviting guest house surrounded by the vineyards, offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the heart of the winery.

The Beginning of Valle Reale

The journey of Valle Reale began in 1999, when Leonardo Pizzoli, originally from Verona, inherited remote land in the valley of Popoli, within the protected landscapes of Maiella National Park. Initially intended for sale, the property instead inspired Leonardo, who saw its potential for winemaking. This region’s unique blend of sulfurous springs, mountainous soil, and pronounced temperature swings convinced him that it could produce wines with exceptional depth and complexity. Drawing on his family’s shrimp and trout aquaculture heritage, he set out to craft wines that would embody the spirit of Abruzzo’s mountains.

To bring his vision to life, Leonardo collaborated with Professor Leonardo Valenti from the University of Milan, tracing the origins of the Montepulciano grape to the untouched mountain regions surrounding Valle Reale. This research led to the revival of a historic 1960 vineyard, cultivated in the traditional “Abruzzo arbour” style, which became the estate’s first cru, the San Calisto Vineyard. Today, Valle Reale’s wines, with their distinctive wax-sealed tops, are celebrated for capturing the essence of this unique terroir and the purity of Abruzzo’s landscape.

The Five Vineyards and Vegetable Garden

Valle Reale’s vineyards, spread across Abruzzo’s rugged landscape, each contribute a distinctive expression of the region’s terroir. The San Calisto Vineyard, dating back to 1960, is the estate’s founding plot and the “father” of all Valle Reale’s Montepulciano vineyards. Situated at a high altitude and cultivated in the traditional “Abruzzo arbour” style, San Calisto produces grapes with vibrant acidity, making wines that age beautifully. The Popoli Vineyard, set at 350 meters near the Pescara River, is dedicated to both Montepulciano and Trebbiano grapes. Here, cool air currents and fertile soil in a forested setting slow the ripening process, resulting in wines with notable freshness and depth.

Capestrano Vineyard, located in the warmer Plain of Ofena, offers a contrasting climate. Here, clay-rich soils and ample sunlight promote robust growth, producing Montepulciano and Trebbiano grapes with rich concentration and complexity. Nearby, the Convent Vineyard sits on former monastic lands in Capestrano, adding another dimension to the estate’s offerings. This 4.5-hectare vineyard, planted in 2003 with Montepulciano cuttings from Popoli, benefits from southeastern exposure and water-retentive clay soil, creating a powerful, concentrated wine profile. Higher still, at 497 meters, the Sant’Eusanio Vineyard lies nestled in pine woods, where the sharp day-to-night temperature swings produce Montepulciano grapes with dynamic acidity and a refined freshness, offering a pure expression of mountain-grown wine.

Complementing the vineyards is Valle Reale’s biodynamic vegetable garden, established as part of the estate’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and biodiversity. Located adjacent to the winery, this two-hectare plot is dedicated to preserving heirloom varieties of cereals, vegetables, and legumes in collaboration with the Abruzzo Agricultural Development Services. Managed in a “wild” state that respects the natural cycles of the soil, the garden produces organic ingredients that enhance the estate’s culinary offerings, providing guests with a true taste of Abruzzo’s agricultural heritage and reinforcing Valle Reale’s dedication to ecologically responsible practices.

At the Cellar

Valle Reale’s winemaking philosophy is rooted in a commitment to natural methods and minimal intervention, allowing the land’s unique character to shape each bottle. Since 2007, the team has relied exclusively on indigenous yeasts to encourage spontaneous fermentation, embracing traditional techniques like pied de cuve to enhance the region’s biodiversity in every wine. Guided by oenologist Enrico Antonioli, Valle Reale has perfected this approach, producing wines that capture the pure essence of the Abruzzo terroir, with every bottle a true reflection of its distinctive environment.

The Wines Tasted

Valle Reale Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC 2022
Obtained from 100% Montepulciano grapes from the Capestrano and Popoli vineyards, undergoes spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts and matures unfiltered for six months in stainless steel, preserving its natural character. It pours a deep ruby with purple highlights, revealing a bouquet of red roses, violets, and carnations layered with candied red berries, sour cherries, and earthy hints of humus, licorice, and rhubarb. The palate is fresh and mineral-driven, with elegant tannins, making for a complex and refined expression of the Abruzzo terroir.

Valle Reale Trebbiano d'Abruzzo DOC 2022
From the 2022 vintage, crafted to express the pure essence of the Trebbiano grape, with vinification exclusively in stainless steel to preserve fresh, primary aromas. Grown in a mountainous microclimate that enhances its aromatic complexity, this wine undergoes partial destemming, gentle pressing, and spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, followed by six months of maturation in steel tanks. It pours a bright straw yellow and offers a nose of citrus, yellow fruit, tropical hints, and delicate chamomile notes. On the palate, it is vibrant and refreshing, with a savory, mineral-driven finish that captures the true character of Trebbiano d’Abruzzo.

Valle Reale Vigneto di Popoli 2021
This wine from the Popoli vineyard is matured exclusively in stainless steel to preserve its purity and vibrant character. The vineyard’s unique location, surrounded by woods, imparts earthy undertones that harmonize with the region’s terroir. In the glass, it shows a bright straw yellow color with golden reflections. The nose is layered and complex, offering aromas of ripe yellow fruit, yellow pulp, and hints of citrus, dried flowers, vanilla, and licorice, alongside elegant floral and spicy notes. On the palate, it is fresh and savory, with a long-lasting persistence and a refined almond finish, displaying an elegant evolution in both flavor and structure.

Valle Reale Vigna del Convento di Capestrano 2019
This Trebbiano vineyard spans about one hectare on a saddle-shaped hill near a pristine spring feeding the Tirino River, yielding consistently rich grapes. It captures a fuller, richer Trebbiano profile, with fermentation in stainless steel using indigenous yeasts and 18 months on fine lees, unfiltered. Pale straw yellow with golden reflections, this wine reveals a deep and complex nose with aromas of yellow stone fruit, tropical hints, honey, and chalk. The palate is dense and juicy, leading to a fresh, mineral-driven finish, with a soft, round texture that beautifully reflects its graceful aging.

San Calisto: Camere con Vigne

San Calisto offers a peaceful retreat, a place to unwind and reconnect with the slow rhythms of nature. Tucked away in the heart of Abruzzo’s lush valleys, this guest house is surrounded by Valle Reale’s vineyards and the pristine green of the Abruzzo Parks. With just two spacious bedrooms and a suite, each thoughtfully designed with natural materials like wood, stone, and terracotta, San Calisto invites guests to enjoy simple elegance and quiet comfort.

Mornings here begin with the scent of homemade bread and pastries, as breakfast is prepared fresh daily with organic ingredients from Valle Reale’s garden. Guests are also treated to an exclusive, leisurely experience in the vineyards, with a private tasting of Montepulciano and Trebbiano wines, paired with local flavors. It’s a place to step back, savor each moment, and let nature work its calming magic.

Valle Reale

Address: Parco Nazionale della Majella, Contrada S. Calisto 65026, Popoli (PE), Italy
Tel: +39 085 9871039
Website: https://www.vallereale.it/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValleRealeWines