Maison de Charme
wellness resort
Vin(olio)sofia
Vin(olio)sofia
With its two hectares of historical olive groves boasting Rosciola, Leccino, and Moraiola cultivars and two hectares of vineyards planted with Cesanese di Affile clones, Il Piglio has espoused a precise philosophy, or rather, Wine(oil)osophy: It strives only for the highest quality, with no compromises whether on the land, in the oil mill, or in the cellars.
The oil is a creation of Elisabetta Petrini. To her, Il Piglio is an unexpected return. Her cradle in Anagni, her Prague roots, her great love of travel, her co-authorship of Roma Caput Vini, and the passion that made her into an oil sommelier, led her to this choice. The wine, on the other hand, is the domain of Giovanni Negri who, after Serradenari in the Land of Barolo (www.giulianegri.com) and a lifetime spent as politician and author (Vinosofia, Il Sangue di Montalcino, L'Illuminato, Il Gioco delle Caste), is trying his hand at making wine, wagering openly on the Cesanese.
For little Jan, who is participating closely in all this, everything is still a joyfull game. And who’s to tell what the future holds for him.
Our Wine(oil)osophy has already convinced the prestigious French chef Alain Ducasse and the network he leads, Les Collectionneurs, which brings together top-notch small resorts and their excellent country restaurants in France, Italy, Spain, and Germany’s Rhine Valley.
“Even our cuisine is entirely inspired by and mostly prepared with what we make in the olive groves, in the vineyard, and in the vegetable garden,” says Elisabetta. “I don’t know if it qualifies as gourmet or not, and frankly, it doesn’t matter. What’s sure is that it’s a very specific cuisine: One can taste it as well as see it, touch it, and collect it just a few steps from the cellars.”
For Giovanni Negri, this philosophy goes well beyond the business: “The Terre del Cesanese, the lands where the Cesanese grows, are like Provence even though they are still unaware of it. They have marvelous nature, art, and culture, and they are marvelous because they are just an hour away from the ancient city of Rome and from the coast of Circeo. The wine they produce can easily compete with the best Italian wines: from local wine to global wine,” he says.
