Storia
Earlier viticultural history
Viticulture on the Ronchi di Manzano hills predates the modern winery by centuries. For generations, the Counts of Trento owned a substantial part of these lands and particularly valued the Ronchi di Manzano for their exposure and soils. The vineyards were regarded among the finest in the area: their produce was destined for counties within the Austro-Hungarian realm and was sought by nobles in France and Savoy.
1969: foundation and first plantings
Ronchi di Manzano was founded in 1969. That year Toni, remembered by the family as a man deeply attached to his land, planted the first Friulano cuttings. His respect for the land, passion and long-term dedication were subsequently passed to his daughter Roberta and to his granddaughters Lisa and Nicole.
The Borghese family and Roberta’s work
The Borghese family acquired the estate in 1984. Roberta Borghese assumed full-time responsibility, combining her connection to Friuli with professional experience and continuing education gained at wine businesses in France, California and Italy. She personally directed vineyard management, cellar techniques and wine promotion.
When Roberta entered the business, she undertook the replanting of the oldest vineyards to increase planting density. She also introduced short pruning, minimized chemical treatments and retained strict harvesting by hand, with grape integrity and quality as the priorities.
2004: expansion of the underground cellar
Beginning with the 2004 harvest, the historic barrel cellar was enlarged. The extension combined contemporary and traditional elements and was designed to accommodate 54-hectolitre French-oak casks. These larger vessels were intended for aging red wines and fermenting selected white wines.
Lisa and Nicole join the estate
Lisa and Nicole later joined their mother in the business, continuing the family tradition and participating in the direction of the winery alongside Roberta.
Fiftieth anniversary
The estate marked fifty years from Toni’s first Friulano planting in 1969, presenting the milestone as the continuation of values transmitted across three generations: Toni, Roberta, Lisa and Nicole.
A new course
Ronchi di Manzano has entered a new phase under CEO Edi Clementin, whose career in the sector spans more than thirty years. This phase combines the estate’s historical roots with a more contemporary identity and concentrates production on seven single-varietal wines selected for their connection and suitability to the territory. The renewed project pursues balance, elegance and an accessible, convivial relationship with wine while retaining the land as its central point of reference.
Terroir
Ronchi di Manzano lies in Friuli, in northeastern Italy, in the heart of the Colli Orientali del Friuli. Its vineyards occupy a hilly landscape whose exposure and microclimate are central to the estate’s identity. The climate is described as well ventilated.
The defining soil is ponca, a layered formation of marl and sandstone dating back millions of years. It is rich in mineral salts, trace elements and other micronutrients. Its natural drainage supports even ripening, while its capacity to maintain stable soil moisture helps protect the vines from drought damage.
The estate historically distinguished two principal areas. Around Manzano, 40 hectares of hills surround the underground winery. At Rosazzo, the 20-hectare Ronc di Rosazzo vineyard occupies the locality’s highest hill. The latter combines ponca with gently shaped terrain and stable moisture conditions.
Olive trees planted among the vineyards contribute to environmental biodiversity and soil stability and help shape the estate microclimate.
Vinificazione
The vineyard program developed under Roberta Borghese began with replanting the oldest vineyards at higher density. Short pruning was introduced on the principle that wine quality begins with the quality of the grapes.
Chemical treatments were reduced as far as possible. Harvesting was conducted strictly by hand to avoid damaging the bunches and to preserve fruit integrity.
Vineyards are interplanted with olive trees, continuing a local practice traced to Roman times. The cultivated olive varieties are Bianchera and Leccino. Their presence is intended to enhance biodiversity, reinforce soil stability and contribute to a favorable microclimate.
The winery is carved into the hill and extends over two underground levels. Rock and brick line the interior in keeping with older local building traditions. Its functional spaces include areas for vinification, bottling and aging, together with a warehouse and barrel cellar.
The historic barrel cellar was enlarged beginning with the 2004 harvest. The expanded facility combines traditional materials with a more contemporary working environment. It contains casks of different capacities, including 54-hectolitre French-oak vessels used to age red wines and ferment selected white wines. A dedicated vinification and aging area follows the barrel room.
Filosofia
Land and suitable varieties
The renewed project seeks to express the nuances of the land through the varieties considered most representative and best adapted to it. Its objective is to interpret the estate’s soils, air, light, exposure and microclimate while joining historical continuity with a contemporary approach.
Balance and conviviality
Edi Clementin describes his conception of wine as direct, authentic and concrete, aligned with the values of the territory. The intended wines are balanced, welcoming and made for relationships between people—a contemporary form of pleasure rather than a display of excess.
The estate calls this idea Comfort Wine: wine that earns appreciation without imposing itself, brings people together, remains elegant without ornament or excess, and accompanies moments meant to be experienced and shared.
A contemporary new course
The new identity is aimed at aware, convivial and curious wine drinkers. It focuses on seven single-varietal wines and places measure, sensitivity, accessibility and elegance at the center of the range. The project presents this as a return to the estate’s origins through a more contemporary language.