One of our favourite Italian wineries is Santa Sofia. Located in beautiful Valpolicella, just north of the city of Verona, Santa Sofia is a well-respected wine institution where history blends seamlessly with modern sustainability.
THE HISTORY
Wine has been produced at Santa Sofia since the early 1800s. The oldest part of the cellar dates back to 1300 and was the work of the friars of San Bernardino. The same friars erected a chapel here dedicated to St. Sophia, giving the name to the winery.
In 1560 a villa designed by the famed Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio was built incorporating the old cellars. Today the villa is a national cultural and architectural icon, becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. Although the villa is now uninhabitable, the cellars are operational and are the resting place for wine in rows of wooden barrels. Visitors to the winery are privileged to be able to tour the ancient cellars.
THE TERROIR
The 24-hectare winery is composed of limy soils. With a variety of ventilation and temperature range, Verona’s native red grapes of Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella grow happily on the gentle terraces.
Grapes are carefully selected to age in both the ancient cellar and the more modern ones to produce the elegant vintages of Valpolicella Classico Superiore Montegradella. The very best rows of Montegradella give life to Amarone, and in exceptional years Amarone della Valpoicella Classico Gioe.
THE FAMILY
In 1964 oenologist Giancarlo Begnoni purchased the villa along with its ancient cellars and vineyards. Today, alongside his son, Luciano Begnoni, the duo are proud to see themselves as privileged caretakers of Santa Sofia. The family has worked hard to maintain the estate’s tradition of making approachable and elegant wines that represent the ancient Valpolicella terroir upon which the winery was built.
THE FUTURE
The history of the winery plays a large role in the company’s identity, but the Begnoni family’s ambition extends beyond preserving this tradition, to shaping a future that is based on progress and sustainable practices that respect its vineyards.
The Begnoni family have recently added several vineyards in other regions including Lugano DOC to their portfolio and are looking forward to exploring the exciting opportunities for new wines.
Santa Sofia produce 650 000 bottles of wine a year which is sold in over 70 countries, a true indication of the quality of this superb wine.
