Storia
The villa and family estate
The Villa di Corlo residence dates from the end of the 17th century. It stands at the centre of an agricultural property covering approximately 100 hectares, about one quarter of which is planted with vines. The estate has remained in the same family for more than a century.
1998: foundation of the winery
Villa di Corlo was founded in 1998 at Baggiovara, in the province of Modena. Under the direction of Antonia Munari, the property developed wine production alongside its historic agricultural activities and the making of Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP in an acetaia installed in the attics of the 17th-century villa.
The winery was constructed in keeping with the rural character of its setting and equipped with modern installations for sparkling-wine production. From the beginning, its production model was based on the exclusive use of estate-grown grapes together with contemporary cellar technology.
2012: investment in renewable energy
In 2012, Villa di Corlo invested in photovoltaic generation as part of an effort to reduce energy use and greenhouse-gas emissions. The installation was calculated to avoid approximately 105 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year and around 2,625 tonnes over its projected 25-year operating life—the equivalent of the annual consumption attributed to approximately 40 families.
Terroir
Villa di Corlo is based at Baggiovara in the province of Modena, in Emilia. Its vineyards encompass more than one setting.
Plantings of Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are situated at 320 metres above sea level. They face south to south-east, and their microclimate supports grape ripening while contributing to the character of the resulting wines.
Lambrusco Grasparossa is also grown around Corlo di Formigine and in the foothills of the municipality of Formigine. The foothill soils are clay-rich, medium-textured and tend toward calcareous composition. One Formigine foothill site is recorded at 90 metres above sea level.
Pinot Nero is cultivated in a high-hill setting.
Vinificazione
The estate’s founding production principle is the exclusive use of grapes cultivated in its own vineyards. Training systems identified for individual plantings include spur-pruned cordon, GDC and, in the English translation of the estate description, Guyot.
The Corlo di Formigine Lambrusco Grasparossa planting has a density of 2,500 vines per hectare under GDC. A separate Formigine foothill planting is recorded at 3,500 vines per hectare under spur-pruned cordon. Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon plantings at 320 metres are described in the Italian text as spur-pruned cordon.
Pinot Nero from the high hills is harvested between the final ten days of August and the first ten days of September. Grapes intended for Elettra are picked early in September and harvested by hand. The Olimpia bottling is made entirely from organic Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro.
The winery was built to respect the rural architectural character of the surrounding area while incorporating advanced installations for sparkling-wine production. Its central technical feature is cold maceration, used to draw flavour and aroma from the grapes while pursuing clean, approachable wines.
The production equipment complies with applicable hygiene, workplace-safety and environmental-impact requirements. The broader operating model combines estate-grown fruit with modern cellar technology.
Filosofia
Villa di Corlo frames its work as following tradition while looking toward the future, with the aim of creating products that express their territory. The estate also presents itself as an evolving agricultural project engaged in an ongoing search for quality products and more sustainable solutions.
This philosophy connects family continuity, estate-grown fruit and respect for the rural setting with modern production technology. Care for the land and the environment is treated as a central value. Through its renewable-energy investment, the estate seeks to encourage a locally rooted model of business informed by ethical, social and environmental standards.