Colle Picchioni is located in Marino, between the Mediterranean Sea and Lake Albano, about 20 kilometers southeast of Rome. In 1976, Paola di Mauro officially created the estate. She had bought the property from a family of French origin, who had planted a vineyard with Bordeaux grapes. In the beginning, Paola produced wine only for family and friends. From time to time, she received help from some oenologists close to the family. The production then reached some 10,000 bottles. In 1985, her son Armando took over. In 1996, he enlisted the help of Riccardo Cotarella, one of the most prominent consultant oenologists in Italy. Like his mother, Armando had no training in viticulture-oenology. He worked for 15 years in the banking sector before taking over the family vineyard. He therefore learned everything on the job, from the cultivation of the vine to the elaboration of the wines. In 2004, Armando’s son, Valerio, joined the winery to take care of sales and marketing. Today, production is just under 100,000 bottles, and the winery’s ambition is to double the volume of production in the next few years.
The 20 acres of vineyard are composed of malvasia del Lazio, trebbiano, sauvignon, chardonnay and semillon in white, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, sangiovese, cesanese and syrah in red. It is located in the DOC Marino, which is rather known for producing white wines of very average quality. This DOC requires the use of at least 50% malvasia di Candia, a grape variety that has a bad reputation because it generally produces high yields per hectare. Armando prefers malvasia del Lazio, a more aromatic variety that gives more interesting results. This is why Colle Picchioni wines are classified as IGT Lazio and not DOC Marino.
Le sous-sol du vignoble, très riche en humus et en calcium, est d’origine volcanique. Le sol étant très fertile, très peu voire aucun traitement n’est nécessaire au niveau de la vigne. Même si le domaine ne souhaite pas revendiquer le label d’agriculture biologique (trop de paperasse en Italie!), il essaie de s’en rapprocher. Le vignoble jouit d’un microclimat du fait qu’il ait coincé entre deux masses d’eau, la mer d’un côté, un lac de l’autre, ce qui permet de réguler le climat. Et si on ajoute, comme le fait remarquer Armando, que le pape est de l’autre côté de la rue, voilà des conditions optimales pour faire pousser du raisin!!! À noter que le domaine a égalemenThe subsoil of the vineyard, very rich in humus and calcium, is of volcanic origin. The soil being very fertile, very little or no treatment is necessary for the vines. Even if the estate does not wish to claim the organic farming label (too much paperwork in Italy!), it tries to get closer to it. The vineyard enjoys a microclimate due to the fact that it is wedged between two bodies of water, the sea on one side and a lake on the other, which helps to regulate the climate. And if we add, as Armando points out, that the Pope is across the street, here are optimal conditions to grow grapes!!! Note that the estate also has an olive grove and produces olive oil.
Colle Picchioni produces 6 wines, 3 whites and 3 reds, which I had the chance to taste with Armando.
– Coste Rotonde, a blend of malvasia (50%) and trebbiano (50%), aged in stainless steel tanks. Light white wine that is very easy to drink. Nice freshness. 5.80 euros at the estate.
– Donna Paola, a blend of malvasia (60%), trebbiano (25%) and semillon (15%), aged in stainless steel tanks. Tropical fruit on the nose, with a slight herbaceous edge. To accompany fish dishes. 9 euros at the domain.
– The Vignole, a blend of malvasia (60%), trebbiano (20%) and sauvignon blanc (20%), fermented in stainless steel tanks, then aged from 12 to 18 months in French oak barrels. Beautiful straw yellow color, very surprising nose of acacia and apricot that one would expect, blindly, from a dessert wine. It is however completely dry, very complex, with a nice minerality and a certain length. A very nice white wine. My favorite of the tasting! Only 12,50 euros at the domain. Armando tells me that it ages beautifully. He recently tasted the 1988, the first vintage of this Le Vignole.
– Collerosso, a blend of merlot (45%), cesanese (30%) and syrah (25%), aged in stainless steel tanks. The everyday wine, simple, light and fruity. 5.80 euros, nothing to complain about at that price!
– Perlaia, a blend of merlot (35%), sangiovese (35%) and cabernet sauvignon (30%), fermented in stainless steel tanks, followed by a very short time in wood. Nose on the cherry, slight bitterness, a little more complex than the previous one. 9 euros at the estate.
– Il Vassallo, the estate’s top-of-the-line red wine. It is a Bordeaux-style blend of Merlot (60%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%) and Cabernet Franc (10%). Aged for one year in French oak barrels. Nose on cherry and chocolate. Tannins still a bit rough, but should melt after a few years in the cellar. To be reviewed in 5 years. Should evolve beautifully.
If you are in Rome and want to visit a winery, Colle Picchioni is the one to recommend. You will find a warm welcome and good wine. You can also take the opportunity to visit Lake Albano and the papal residence of Castel Gandolfo, which is only a few minutes away by car.
To contact the winery:
Via Colle Picchione 46
00040 Frattocchie di Marino (RM)
Tel: +39.06.93546329
collepicchioni.it
info@collepicchioni.it
As a little bonus, I asked Armando, a lover of good food, to recommend some good restaurants in Rome and in the region. Here are his suggestions:
– Trattoria Sora Lella, on Isola Tiberina, an island in the middle of the Tiber in Rome, a restaurant of typical Roman cuisine. trattoriasoralella.it
– Checchino dal 1887, in the Testaccio district of Rome, another restaurant of typical Roman cuisine. checchino-dal-1887.com
– Novecento, near the Piramide metro station in Rome. Very good cold cuts, meats and pizzas. 9cento.com
– Povero Pesce, in Ostia, restaurant on the seafront, specialized on fish and seafood. Very good soups too. An advice before leaving Rome, go a little earlier and eat at this restaurant, because it is only about fifteen minutes from the international airport of Fiumicino. poveropesce.com
Leave a Reply