Azienda Agricola Rontana

History

Family roots in Romagna

The Ricci Curbastro are a noble family of Lugo di Romagna. They reached the area in the 14th century after being expelled from Florence during the conflicts between the Guelphs and Ghibellines. Pietro Ricci Curbastro, born in Romagna in 1380, may have been the first member of the family born there after the Florentine exile. The family's agricultural tradition consequently extends across eighteen generations and back to the 13th century.

The surviving family archive covers more than six centuries of agricultural and private life. Its Romagna holdings include a collection of photographic plates dating from 1890. The Romagna documentation is less extensive than the material relating to the family's property in Brescia because the Second World War destroyed both records and the family villa in Romagna.

Return to full-time farming

In 1969, Gualberto Ricci Curbastro left his position with Alitalia to devote himself full-time to the family's agricultural properties. His responsibilities included the estates at Lugo and Bagnavallo in Romagna. His son Riccardo had joined the family's agricultural business by 1978.

Creation of the Brisighella winery

In 2000, Gualberto realised his plan to establish a winery in Romagna. Azienda Agricola Rontana was created on the hills of Brisighella, in the province of Ravenna.

After Gualberto's death in 2013, Riccardo continued the family enterprise and was subsequently joined by his sons Gualberto and Filippo. Riccardo and his sons now conduct the Brisighella estate together.

Reacquisition and the current generation

In 2018, the younger Gualberto Ricci Curbastro repurchased Azienda Agricola Rontana from his uncles and assumed responsibility for its entire wine production. Filippo Ricci Curbastro, an oenologist, began working at Rontana in December 2020.

A Sauvignon Blanc vineyard was also planted in 2020 at a density of 4,000 vines per hectare. Its fruit now forms part of Rontana's current production alongside estate-grown Sangiovese.

Environmental initiatives

Beginning in 2022, discarded oak staves from used barrels were repurposed as artificial nesting boxes for insectivorous birds. Boxes made within this project were installed at Rontana as well as in the family's Franciacorta vineyards and other family and estate grounds.

13th centuryThe Ricci Curbastro family's documented agricultural tradition begins.

14th centuryThe Ricci Curbastro family reaches Lugo di Romagna after being expelled from Florence during the Guelph–Ghibelline conflicts.

1380Pietro Ricci Curbastro is born in Romagna, possibly the first family member born there after the exile from Florence.

1890The earliest photographic plates preserved in the family's Romagna collection date from this year.

Second World WarThe family villa in Romagna is completely destroyed, together with a substantial part of the region's family documentation.

1969Gualberto Ricci Curbastro leaves Alitalia to work full-time in the family's agricultural enterprises, including its Romagna properties.

1978Riccardo Ricci Curbastro begins working with his father in the family agricultural business.

2000Gualberto Ricci Curbastro creates Azienda Agricola Rontana and its winery on the hills of Brisighella.

2013Gualberto Ricci Curbastro dies; Riccardo continues the family enterprise and is subsequently joined by his sons.

2018The younger Gualberto Ricci Curbastro repurchases Azienda Agricola Rontana from his uncles and takes responsibility for all of its wine production.

2020A Sauvignon Blanc vineyard is planted at 4,000 vines per hectare.

December 2020Oenologist Filippo Ricci Curbastro begins working at Azienda Agricola Rontana.

2022The family begins converting staves from retired oak barrels into nesting boxes for insectivorous birds; boxes are subsequently installed at Rontana.

Terroir

Azienda Agricola Rontana occupies the hills of Brisighella in the province of Ravenna. Its current estate wines draw on vineyards at 400–450 metres above sea level, set amid steep slopes that are covered with yellow-flowering broom in late spring.

The vineyard soils are formed from marl and sandstone, with a silty-sandy texture and a clay component. The natural gradient provides effective drainage. The soils are also described as mineral-rich, contributing structure and freshness to the resulting wines.

Winemaking

Manual harvestThe grapes for both current estate wines are picked by hand in September.

Grassed interrowsPermanent vegetation between the rows supports biodiversity and contributes organic matter to the vineyard soil.

Hillside drainageVines grow on naturally draining slopes at 400–450 metres above sea level.

Gentle grape handlingThe current production protocols use gentle destemming or pressing after harvest.

The vineyards used for Rontana's current Sangiovese and Sauvignon Blanc production lie at 400–450 metres above sea level. Planting densities range from 3,500 to 4,000 vines per hectare for Sangiovese and reach 4,000 vines per hectare in the Sauvignon Blanc vineyard planted in 2020.

Interrows are maintained under grass. This practice is intended to preserve biodiversity and increase organic inputs to the soil. The natural vineyard slopes promote drainage. The estate's current grapes are harvested manually in September; the Sauvignon Blanc fruit also undergoes careful selection. For the estate-grown Sangiovese, the stated ceiling is 9 tonnes per hectare with a 65% yield.

Artificial nesting boxes for insectivorous birds have been installed at Rontana as part of the “Le tre vite dell’albero” project. Begun in 2022, the initiative gives a second use to oak staves from retired barrels.

Rontana works with estate-grown Sangiovese and Sauvignon Blanc from its hillside vineyards in Brisighella. Both are harvested manually in September and handled gently after arrival at the winery. The cellar equipment identified for the current range includes temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, cement vessels and oak casks.