Roncolo 1888

Unwaxed Lemons

Intro

Once the noble country estate of the Marquises Fontanelli, the Counts Galliani and the Counts Ancini, and in the 19th century the residence of the Marquis Manodori, the resplendent 16th-century Villa Manodori is today the heart of Relais Roncolo 1888, a boutique hotel set within 130 hectares of the Venturini Baldini viticultural estate. Located between Parma and Reggio Emilia, we are in slow-lane country, the rolling hills of 'Made in Emilia' and the lands of Matilde di Canossa in northern Italy's Emilia-Romagna region, within easy driving distance of Modena and Bologna.

The mood here is firmly casual luxury, despite the aristocratic air of a country seat. The long driveway approach ushers in a sense of times past, shielded by Italian landscaped gardens, tall cypress trees and infinity vineyards. With a clever remodelling by owners Julia and Giuseppe Prestia, the smartly updated Relais Roncolo 1888 sits perfectly here, with a stylish aesthetic that works so well within the beamed ceilings and thick, chunky walls of this heirloom gem.

The hotel's relaxed demeanour complements Venturini Baldini's sustainable and organic approach to winemaking, where grapes and crops are harvested traditionally by hand. Staying at Relais Roncolo 1888 means immersion in the layers of Venturini Baldini's vino culture. You can taste fine wines (try their somewhat addictive organic-certified Lambrusco), and dedicated wine aficionados can inspect the neat rows of vines or have a nosey around the winery. Within the estate, the Acetaia di Canossa occupies the lofts, with more than 400 barrels of ageing balsamic, reputedly the region's oldest.

Although there's lots to see, your day falls into an easy rhythm: tasting wine, enjoying platters of Parma ham, Parmigiano Reggiano, and the estate's balsamic vinegar, relaxing by the pool, or savouring dinner at Limonaia, the newly designed restaurant in the estate's historic greenhouse.

The long driveway approach ushers a sense of times past, shielded by Italian landscaped gardens, tall cypress trees, and infinity vineyards

Relais Roncolo 1888 is truly a place for lovers of wine, food and the slow pace, where the owners convey their passion for good agricultural practices, sustainable wine production and innate respect for the land, folk and heritage.

Rooms

Roncolo 1888 | Boutique Guesthouse Hotel in the Venturini Baldini Vineyards of Emilia Romagna, Italy | The Aficionados

The cool interior of Relais Roncolo 1888 is the perfect respite after a day’s wine tasting or strolling the surrounding forests, lakes, vines and pastures. With 17 suites, the design template takes inspiration from the structure’s original features – beams take centre stage, framing the simple pared-back composition.

Floors come with smooth modern wood and flecks of colour adorn bedspreads on soft white beds and mid-century seating dots the simple aesthetic where heritage features are allowed to flourish. Bathrooms are tiled in geometric whites, and Terrazzo in the Villa Manodori, with walk-in showers and oval free-standing sinks.

Foodie

Culinary Dining | Roncolo 1888 | Boutique Guesthouse Hotel in the Venturini Baldini Vineyards of Emilia Romagna, Italy | The Aficionados

Gourmet Food | Roncolo 1888 | Boutique Guesthouse Hotel in the Venturini Baldini Vineyards of Emilia Romagna, Italy | The Aficionados

Clasped by such high-quality, fertile surroundings, you’d be right in thinking that eating and drinking here at Relais Roncolo 1888 are of a very high standard. The fine-dining restaurant 'Limonaia', based in the estate’s historic greenhouse, showcases the best of ‘breadbasket’ Emilia Romagna, being the home of ragu, lasagna and tortellini, not to mention the nearby towns of Parma and Modena sharing their wealth. Expect refined takes on the classics and of course paired with wine whose grapes were carefully harvested just metres from where you sit.

Aged vinegar is synonymous with the region. Within the grounds is the in-house Acetaia di Canossa which has its origins in a historic vinegar factory, housed in the rafters of a building from the 17th Century. It contains more than 400 barrels of juniper, oak, cherry, ash and chestnut wood, each barrel gives the vinegar its own unmistakable aroma. Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Reggio Emilia and balsamic vinegars of Modena IGP are used in the kitchens, adding that unique flavour.

Sustainability and organic are also at the forefront of the menu offerings here; the estate’s commitment to only organic products began in earnest in the early 1990s, and the winery was one of the first to be fully organic in Italy – their entirely organic production show their deep roots in the community and its future. Breakfast showcases further the organic delights including the best Italian coffee – in spring enjoy a Sunday Brunch in the meadow and come summer, rosé Wednesday is a popular mid-week treat.

Location

Creating an idyll in Italy's culinary heartland of Emilia-Romagna, Relais Roncolo 1888 sits in the lands of Matilde di Canossa, surrounded by the pleasures of the good life and great natural beauty. On your doorstep are walks around the 130-hectare estate through forests, meadows and, of course, vineyards. Nearby, Bianello Castle crowns a hilltop with fantastic views, one of the four castles that give the town of Quattro Castella its name.

Slightly further afield, within an hour's drive, enjoy the foodie pleasures of Modena, famed for its balsamic vinegar (though Roncolo keeps its own acetaia in the rafters), or Parma for that divine ham. If you're after coastline, the Tuscan beaches of Forte dei Marmi are just two hours away. And if you're a motorhead, Motor Valley, the birthplace of Ferrari and Lamborghini, will get your engine revving. For access, Bologna is the best international airport hub.

Owners

Julia Prestia, Giuseppe Prestia | Roncolo 1888 | Boutique Guesthouse Hotel in the Venturini Baldini Vineyards of Emilia Romagna, Italy | The Aficionados

Winemaking has been the focus of this estate since 1976, when the Venturini Baldini family set the bar high with a manual harvest and use of oenologists to ensure the highest quality of the grapes, producing grape varieties including Sorbara, Grasparossa, Pinot Nero, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Grigio.

Today, Julia Prestia and her husband Giuseppe from Sicily run the estate; in 2012 they continued and built on the organic work that the Venturini Baldini family began, even re-branding cloyingly sweet Lambrusco from the 80s back to its original dry, bubbly appellation. With Julia’s background in management consulting and finance at McKinsey & Co in London and the regeneration of the farm buildings to add accommodation, they’ve helped put the shy and retiring region of Emilia-Romagna on the map.

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