Former engineer Sergio Bombetti and son Paolo tend to their family vineyard Colleformica 40km south-east of Rome near the town of Velletri. The pair split their time between this little country house and Rome, where Paolo also runs a B&B. For more than a century, the family have cultivated a modest three-hectare stretch of vines, olive trees and vegetable gardens. Their orange trees produce the tastiest taroccos we’ve ever tried.
It’s all about the soil here which is, believe it or not, volcanic – thanks to a former lake that grew out of a former crater of a now very much extinct volcano on the same site. An incredibly unique terroir that is beautifully reflected in a small range of very thoughtful easy-drinking wines. Featuring an almost Burgundy style Sangiovese; a juicy skin-contact Trebbiano and Malvasia orange wine; and a sparkling rosato that tastes almost like volcanic watermelons – Colleformica produce some of the most unique wines we’ve ever tasted from Lazio.