Storia
Early 20th century: Romito joins the Fugazza holdings
The Fugazza family originated in the area and had a long-established background as landowners and food-preserving industrialists. In the early 1900s, the family added the wine-growing estates of Luzzano and Romito to its existing agricultural properties. Romito was subsequently developed as a distinct estate in Piacentino territory.
The new owners renewed the two properties with more modern vineyard plantings and winemaking cellars. These investments gave fresh impetus both to the estates and to local viticulture.
Emilio Fugazza and Maria Giulia
Emilio Fugazza managed the family estates with the early assistance of his daughter Maria Giulia. Although Maria Giulia graduated in literature, she committed herself to the agricultural properties while still young and accumulated extensive practical experience.
Maria Giulia ultimately directed the agricultural side of the operation. She chose vineyard plantings, introduced additional grape varieties and pursued clonal selection with quality as the principal criterion. At Romito, selected superior vines became the source of clones periodically used when vineyards were renewed.
1980: Giovannella Fugazza returns
Giovannella Fugazza, Maria Giulia’s sister, initially followed a different career. After graduating in law, she qualified as a legal procurator and spent time away from the family business. Their father’s death created a need for her return, and in 1980 she joined the estates permanently.
That year the sisters began a new phase focused on developing estate bottling under the Castello di Luzzano name. They divided responsibilities according to their respective experience: Maria Giulia oversaw agriculture, vineyard planting and clonal work, while Giovannella took charge of the cellar and commercial activities. The resulting development brought their wines to a broader international audience.
2004 and current direction
Maria Giulia died in 2004, ending the sisters’ long collaboration. Giovannella subsequently assumed direction of every branch of the family operation, supported by a younger team. Romito remains a separate Fugazza property adjacent to Luzzano and entirely within Piacentino territory, while its production is presented under the Castello di Luzzano name.
Terroir
Romito lies adjacent to Luzzano but entirely within Piacentino territory. Its vineyards surround the farm centre, while the combined vineyard holdings around the two neighbouring estate centres extend across elevations of 150–270 metres above sea level.
Romito’s soils differ markedly from the calcareous marls at Luzzano. They comprise deep sands, clay and iron-rich silt. These conditions are associated with soft, fruit-led red wines intended for moderate ageing and white wines with broad, intense aromas.
The Malvasia di Candia Aromatica vineyards are situated in the commune of Ziano, in Valtidone within the Colli Piacentini. They occupy iron-rich clay slopes at approximately 220–270 metres above sea level. These soils and slopes support the variety’s aromatic expression, tannic character and acidity.
Vinificazione
Romito has participated for more than 20 years in an integrated organic farming programme monitored by regional authorities. The programme is intended to reduce the use of plant-protection products and fertilisers.
Permanent grass cover is maintained beneath the rows throughout the estate operation. Harvesting is predominantly manual. Certain less-steep vineyards have also been prepared for mechanical harvesting with estate-owned equipment.
Clonal renewal is based on selections from the best-performing plants. At Romito this work is especially associated with Malvasia di Candia Aromatica: selected estate material is propagated and periodically incorporated into vineyards undergoing renewal.
Production is based exclusively on grapes grown on the family’s own properties, with fruit selected from the best vineyards. Each vineyard is harvested and vinified separately so that its individual characteristics are retained.
Romito is principally a source of annual-release reds and Malvasia di Candia Aromatica. Its deep sandy, clay and iron-rich silty soils are associated with softer, fruit-driven reds suited to moderate ageing and intensely aromatic whites. Dr. Stefano Testa oversees oenology.
Filosofia
The estate’s approach begins with proprietary fruit: only grapes from the family’s own holdings are bottled, and the best vineyards are selected for production. Harvesting and vinification proceed vineyard by vineyard, reflecting a commitment to retaining the identity of individual sites rather than merging them at the outset.
In the vineyards, quality is pursued through long-term plant selection. Superior vines provide clonal material for periodically renewed parcels, while planting decisions and the introduction of varieties have historically been guided by agricultural suitability and quality. Reduced chemical inputs, complete grass cover beneath the rows and predominantly manual harvesting form the practical environmental dimension of this approach.
Family continuity is central to Romito’s direction. Maria Giulia Fugazza’s work in vineyard planning and clonal selection was complemented by Giovannella Fugazza’s responsibility for cellar and commercial operations. Giovannella now directs the broader family operation with a younger team.
Vini
