Our Vineyards
Some of the vines are forty years old, while others are very young. There is clay, limestone, silt, and rocky outcrops. There are slopes and valleys, terraces and dry-stone walls. The vineyard of Castello di Grumello is constantly evolving.
Vineyard map
Thanks to the deeper, more fertile soils, Merlot does not suffer from drought and the grapes ripen steadily without excessive alcoholicity.
A rather cool area at the bottom of the hills exposed to the morning sun, ideal for grapes such as pinot grigio, which do not like intense sunlight.
A space enclosed by dry-stone walls that protects the vines from temperature changes due to frost, humidity or excessive heat.
Organically poor, gravelly soil that creates slight water stress and leads to optimal vine maturity.
This is where the Burdunì grapes are grown, resulting in a wine that has good balance between ripeness and acidity.
Calcareous marl with little clay and plenty of rock
the highly skeletal soil makes it difficult for the plant to find organic matter. The vine is thus driven deep into the ground, which results in slower but more balanced ripening.
A valley in the proximity of the woods, giving white grapes freshness and acidity.
The morning sun and east-facing vineyard ensures gentle ripening of white grapes. The fairly moist soil avoids strain on vine growth.
The terraced rows allow the Chardonnay to receive more warmth, while preserving freshness and acidity.
Excellent ripening is ensured by the vineyards' exposure, and the deep rooting of the vines due to the gravelly soil.
A favourable exposure for the merera grape, requiring more sun and organically rich soil.
Cooler, east-facing soils are ideal for cabernet franc, which ripens earlier than cabernet sauvignon.
The planting base consists of terracing and dry-stone walls, currently being restored. The heat is mitigated by the woodland just downstream of the vineyard.
The fairly dry soils accelerate grape ripening, which is always rather complex and structured.
A very warm area suitable for an initial withering of Moscato grapes on the vine, thanks to a high degree of ripeness.
This is considered a "difficult" soil because of its rockiness, which results in deep-rooting and a slower, more balanced ripening process.
Cool soils and exposure to the morning sun make for delicate grape growth, with particular freshness and acidity.
An ever-changing landscape
In the past the vineyards occupied a much wider area. Today, they cover no more than 1,000 hectares, but Valcalepio has chosen quality over quantity.
There is neither monoculture nor monotony: the space is shared among vineyards, woods, castles, churches and abbeys.
A matter of identity
Valcalepio is a Bordeaux-blend land, because cabernet sauvignon and merlot have been grown here since the mid-19th century.
It is therefore not a whim, but a matter of identity.
Old-new grapes
There is also a local ampelographic heritage which we respect and believe in, with old-new grapes worth protecting and promoting. We are thinking of merera and moscato di Scanzo grapes.
