Organic Wines by the Venturini Baldini Estate

Deep in the heart of Italy’s breadbasket region Emilia-Romagna lies the Venturini Baldini estate in the hills of Matilde di Canossa, surrounded by rows of neat vines and clasped in archetypal cypress trees, a productive wine-making estate established in 1970.

With 130-hectares of land, cradled between Parma and Reggio Emilia, the hilly area, ideal microclimate and verdant encircling forest was deemed the perfect spot for growing grapes. However, Venturini Baldini, located on an aristocratic estate that dates back to the 16^th century, decided to harvest and produce wine in a specific organic way and became the first organic certified vineyard in Emilia-Romagna.

This continues to be one of their main selling points and alongside stringent methods of production including hand-harvesting the grapes by in-house oenologists, the wines speak for themselves with grape varieties including Sorbara, Grasparossa and Salamino, producing Malvasia di Candia Aromatica, Pinot Nero, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Grigio. Testament to this is the steady stream of visitors flocking to the estate, to taste wines, inspect the vines, look at the wine production line in the on-site factory and have lunch in the greenhouse restaurant. The estate has now branched out with a renovation of a villa to create the smart and comfortable Hotel Roncolo 1888.

One of the more interesting stories linked to the Venturini Baldini estate is their re-invention of Lambrusco, a wine scorned by many in the 80s for its sickly taste. However, not many people know that it is in fact the oldest grape in Emilia-Romagna and owners Julia Prestia and her husband Giuseppe made it their mission to remarket Lambrusco to stunning success. Begone the cloying taste and welcome in a dry, refined and frankly, delicious appellation – banishing preconceptions about Lambrusco forever. Their chilled sparkling red Lambrusco is another success story, perfect to drink on a summer’s day with the region’s finest Parma ham and parmesan. 

With hotel Roncolo 1888 bringing Venturini Baldini into a new era, we’re excited to see this viticultural estate bloom.