La Luce del Verdicchio di Matelica
Email:
info@collestefano.com
Phone:
+39 347 3668345
+39 0737 640439
Address:
Loc. Colle Stefano n.3
62022 Castelraimondo (Macerata) Italy
43°12’26.7″N 13°01’38.5″E
Surface area: 2.4 ha
Year: 2015
Exposure: South-East
Row orientation: East-West
Planting spacing: 2.8 x 1.20
Slope: 5-8%
Vines: Verdicchio Marche Bianco IGT 0.8 ha
Colli Maceratesi DOC Ribona 0.6 ha
From a pedoclimatic point of view this vineyard, located in the municipality of Pioraco, in the Le Prata locality from which it takes its name, is strongly distinguished from the remaining vineyards in the Collestefano locality, in particular the proximity to the mountain and to Mount Castel Santa Maria (1200 m ) and to the gorge of the Potenza river; the terroir is exceptional, characterized by an accentuated windiness which in the hot hours brings hot air from the bottom upwards, while at night very cold air, both from the mountain, but above all from the gorge of the river, flows downstream following the riverbed fluvial, violently hitting the Le Prata plateau which is located right below, creating a strong temperature range from day to night.
In this vineyard the soil is also characterized in a very different way: not having a sandstone and sandy matrix like in Collestefano, but of an alluvial nature, there is a greater presence of pebbly skeleton especially in certain points with abundant presence of silt and clay. The presence of active limestone is less than 10%.
Surface area: 2.3 ha
Year: 2008
Exposure: North
Row orientation: North-South
Planting spacing: 2.75 x 1
Slope: 10-18%
Grape variety: Verdicchio
This vineyard is characterized by having a medium-textured soil with a presence of approximately 15% limestone; as always, being exposed to the north, there is a greater presence of clay which increases the risk of landslides. In fact, looking at the profile in the middle of the vineyard, you can see a depression created 20 years ago, before the creation of the vineyard. Almost always, after the creation of the vineyard, if appropriately managed, there are no longer risks of landslides, as the roots of the vine plants exert a strong action in condensing the soil.
In the upper part of the vineyard, we find ourselves at the top of a ridge where an old local road is located, bordered by two beautiful rows of oaks and other trees, which frame the fields and with them the farms. Furthermore, almost always, this exposure also facilitates air exchange, increasing the ventilation of the vineyard.
HISTORY: Vigna di Elena represents the first vineyard purchased by the company in 2008, 10 years after its foundation; therefore it represented a great achievement for me and this coincided with the birth of my firstborn Elena, from which the name derives.
In the western edge of the vineyard, on the border with the two oaks, the first clonal field from mass selection was created at the time of planting, with one of the presumed clones that I had discovered in the old family vineyards.
Surface area: 1.3 ha
Year: 2017
Exposure: North
Row orientation: North-South
Grape variety: Verdicchio 100%
Slope: 22%
Agronomic notes: Living strawberry mulch
The vineyard takes its name “Frana” because in the past, at the end of winter, when the snow melted, a landslide occurred. From the photo, behind the beautiful oak tree deliberately safeguarded by the company, in an attempt to incorporate it into the vineyard, you can see that the profile of the hill, despite the years that have passed, shows the steep consequences caused by the event.
The occurrence of major landslides in these hills, especially if exposed to the north, is due to the richness of clay formations that coexist with layers of rock and sand.
Surface area: 2.2 ha
Year: 1987
Exposure: North
Row orientation: North-South
Planting spacing: 3 x 2
Slope: 5-20% Grape variety: Verdicchio
This is the first vineyard planted by the Marchionni family in 1988, 9 years after purchase.
I remember that my father Benedetto and I, with our pink slip and a Fiat 131, went to Assam, the Marche development body, to try to obtain the replanting rights.
With a 5-20% slope, the vineyard is rich in skeleton right up to the surface, while the clay fraction increases at the bottom, halfway up the hill, there is a water source.
Despite being exposed to the north, this vineyard is incredibly resistant to late frosts.
Agronomic notes: as a common agronomic practice in those times, after the digging with a plow at 1 meter, 3×2 planting layouts were adopted, large, with only 1600 vines/ha, but which nevertheless present many positive aspects.
The name of the vineyard derives from the presence of a shed that was built by the family in 1991, on the occasion of my sister Fabiola’s wedding; I remember that my father Benedetto made all the windows one night in his workshop.
Surface area: 2 ha
Year: 2009/2017
Exposure: East
Row orientation: East-West
Planting spacing: 1.75 x 1/1.20
Slope: 8%
Grape variety: Verdicchio
This plot is one of the 3 vineyards with which the company was founded in April 1998. Organic cultivation, however, had already started in 1995. This is the first vineyard started with organic cultivation in the Matelica area.
Like most of the Collestefano vineyards, the soil is characterized by the presence of a combination of clay and sand formations which alternate, giving rise to variable profiles with different combinations of sand and clay; in fact, in depth, almost always halfway up the hill, it is not difficult to find important water sources at a depth of 14 metres. In this vineyard there are 3 examples.
Climatic references: from the photo you can see the presence of the fola that characterizes Collestefano. The photo in this vineyard shows its geographical location, i.e. its positioning below the mountain. The proximity to the gorge of the Potenza river which carves the two mountains Monte Primo and Monte Castel S.Maria involves a movement of cold air which especially during the night descends downwards pouring into the vineyard area, both from the mountain, but above all from the opening of the throat.
Surface area: 0.7 ha
Year: 2009
Exposure: South-East
Row orientation: East-West
Planting spacing: 2.75 x 1
Slope: 10%
Grape variety: Verdicchio
The vineyard is characterized by a deep medium-textured soil, like all the others, rich in stone and limestone (14%). We are in a foothill area, that is, close to the Umbria-Marche Apennines chain. To the south are the Sibillini mountains with Vettore (approximately 2400 m), while to the north is Mount Catria. As you can see from the photo, we are close to the Potenza river valley and you can see the river gorge with Monte Primo on the left and Monte Castel S.Maria on the right.
On the left we see an oak reel, which was an ancient net hunting system practiced in this area.
Surface area: 1.2 ha
Exposure: Sus
Row orientation: North-South
Grape variety: Verdicchio 0.6 ha
Sangiovese 0.3 ha
Cabernet 0.2 ha
Barbera 0.1 ha
The characteristic of this vineyard is the southern exposure, a soil rich in skeleton and a steep steep slope.
The skeleton is very abundant in the highest part of the vineyard, while going down, a medium-textured soil prevails, increasing in the clay fraction.
Exceptional from a landscape point of view are the two centuries-old oaks, among the largest in the province of Macerata. When I had to rent the land the neighbor insisted, but I was undecided because only 50% was invested in Verdicchio. So I invited my father to visit for advice; His advice struck me a lot. In fact he said to me: “take it, take it because there are two beautiful oak trees”.
Finally, this vineyard is surrounded by a beautiful lake perfectly integrated into the vineyard and all surrounded by approximately 6 hectares of woodland intended for organic truffle cultivation.
Surface area: 2.5 ha
Year: 2017
Exposure: North
Row orientation: North-South
Planting spacing: 2.75 x1.18
Slope: 10-25%
Grape variety: Verdicchio
This is the last vineyard created on the company, in 2017; therefore, like all new vineyards, from 2017 onwards, live mulch of wild strawberry (Fragaria Vesca) is introduced in the area under the rows. By introducing two seedlings into the stump area, within 2/3 years, a living mulch is formed which entirely covers the area under the vineyard, almost completely limiting the presence of weeds. One of the two theses carried out with the University of Ancona (Erosion Thesis) is therefore located in this vineyard. As regards the soil, a lithological matrix, this vineyard has a very abundant presence of skeleton, especially in the central and lower area of the vineyard (2/3) and it is curious to see how the vine adapts and grows even rigorously with soil rich in skeleton .
When my vineyards were not yet there and the plot was cultivated with durum wheat by the previous owner, the field was always threshed last in the area because the durum wheat resisted the squeeze as the soil, not going into water stress, did not it never dried.
The name Pendente derives from the fact that, while the other vineyards have a steep slope which in some cases reaches up to 25% (see Vigna del Laghetto), here there is a double slope (20% downhill and 15% across), which makes the land at the limit of working with normal company machines, but this critical situation was not a problem for the company, rather a challenge.
Surface area: 3 ha
Year: 2016
Exposure: North
Row orientation: South-North
Planting spacing: 1.42 x 2.75
Slope: 15-18%
Grape variety: Verdicchio
The vineyard is characterized by deep, medium-textured soil, with 15% limestone. Also in this vineyard and halfway up the slope there is a beautiful water source.
Like the entire Matelica area and all the other vineyards, the Serena vineyard does not use emergency water and there has never been a need; for this reason the surface of the soil is almost always covered by multi-year grass cover with various favored spontaneous species.
Surface area: 0.9 ha
Year: 2017
Exposure: South
Row orientation: East-west
Planting spacing: 1.75 x 1.25
Slope: 4-8%
Agronomic notes: Clonal field, Verdiccio from mass selection
In October 2017 in this vineyard, living mulsh of Fragaria vesca or wild strawberry was planted in the area under the row and for the entire surface.
The University of Agricultural Sciences of Ancona, believing in our project, has started a collaboration in the company which is giving exceptional results and further in-depth research is being carried out.
From the photos we note that 3 years after the start of the experiment, the living strawberry mulch (already after a year and a half the situation was similar) colonized 100% of the surface of the sub-row.
Surface area: 1.8 ha
Year: 2000
Exposure: North
Row orientation: South-North
Planting spacing: 3 x 1.5
Slope: 10-15%
Vines: 0.18 Sangiovese
0.6 Merlot
0.76 Verdicchio
As regards the soil, tilling in alternate rows and grassing with an annual herbage of barley and field beans. Mechanical processing of the under-row.
We can observe how in these vine cultivation environments, an agronomic practice that derives from millenary experiences allows extraordinary results to be obtained in terms of plant vigor in arid cultivation conditions.
The name of the vineyard derives from the presence of a small stable for the shelter of 2-3 cattle for domestic use (when in 1978 the family purchased their first property in Collestefano, having origins as sharecroppers they wanted to rebuild a small stable, as a reminder of their habits and therefore a mini-breeding of cattle was maintained, in addition to pigs and domestic animals; even now after 42 years, the situation has remained the same because my cousin Enzo and his family continue breeding as a hobby with pleasure.
