21 August 2023
When you think of Emilia-Romagna, do you think of wine? If the answer is «No», then you have not yet seen Umberto Cesari.
Umberto Cesari is undoubtedly the most important winery in Emilia-Romagna: a company that has believed in the potential of its land when only a few did back in the 1960s, investing all its efforts in enhancing the territory. The winery skillfully combined the devotion to native vines such as Albana, Pignoletto, Trebbiano and – above all Sangiovese – with the adaptive ability of international varieties, which turned out to be perfect for the territory of Castel San Pietro Terme, where the winery is currently located.
But Umberto Cesari is more than a winery. It is an authentic experience that also includes art, immersed in over 300 hectares of vineyards divided into eight estates. It represents the chance to discover the bounty of the hills of Emilia-Romagna, its rich wine heritage and the art of hospitality, which is presented in various Wine Experiences – don't call them «tastings». There are several spaces dedicated to hospitality: the Wine Shop; the Tasting Room, which can accommodate up to 50 people; and the Barrel cellar, the heart of the company, always open for tours. During summer, guests can also enjoy the majestic view from the Terrace situated on the hills overlooking the vineyards.
CLASSIC TOUR: AN INTRODUCTION TO EMILIA-ROMAGNA
The Classic Tour is the first step in getting to know Umberto Cesari. The tour of the barrel cellar is followed by a tasting of 3 wines made from native grape varieties, all accompanied by carefully selected local specialties. The wines for tasting are Colle Belvedere Pignoletto; Colle del Re Romagna Albana secco and Annata Romagna Sangiovese Riserva, 100% Sangiovese that reveals Umberto Cesari's expertise in cultivating and producing the region's flagship variety.
MOMA EXPERIENCE: THE WINE OF ART AND THE ART OF WINE
Moma is the “capsule collection” by Umberto Cesari that embraces the world of art, and for this reason, we have created an experience dedicated to it: a journey that explores the union of Dionysus and Apollo, of the content and its container. The famous Moma label (in its Red, White, and Sparkling versions, all up for tasting) features the artwork entitled “Golden Glass” by Beatrice Pani, an artist from Milan who won the third edition of the Umberto Cesari Art Contest, an award given by the winery to promote emerging artists and new talents. It all began with the first label in 2011, which featured a work by one of Italy's greatest painters of the 20th century: Giorgio Morandi, a renowned artist from Bologna. This inspired the idea to continue promoting the union between art and wine through a contest.
TOUR DELUXE AND TOUR PRESTIGE
If you want to experience Umberto Cesari’s most profound essence, we highly recommend Tour Deluxe and Tour Prestige. These tours cover different aspects: vineyards, winemaking areas and the wine cellar, all followed by tastings of Umberto Cesari's flagship wines served with selections of top-quality local products.
While the Deluxe tour features Umberto Cesari's iconic labels (Liano Bianco, Liano Rosso, Yemula, Tauleto and Colle del Re Passito), the Prestige tour focuses on the crus. Aside from Liano Bianco, Liano Rosso and Tauleto, guests can sample some of the rarest labels from the Castel San Pietro Terme estate: Laurento (a Sangiovese Riserva of rare elegance, born on a property purchased from the Curia of Bologna); Resultum (a tasteful and refined 100% Sangiovese, made from grapes grown on the Opera Pia estate vinified without using wood or generating excessive structure); and Umberto Cesari 100% Merlese (the world's first wine made from 100% Merlese grapes, a variety that combines the best characteristics of Sangiovese and Merlot, aged exclusively in stainless steel).
WHITE AND RED: THE NEW “COMPARATIVE” EXPERIENCES
Starting from 2023, Umberto Cesari's Experiences have increased. Two new thematic visits and tastings have been created to compare the estate's white wines and the various Sangiovese labels. The unique White Experience allows visitors to taste different types of white wines: Colle Belvedere Pignoletto Frizzante VS Moma Spumante; Colle del Re Romagna Albana VS Albana Vintage. Who will prevail?
The Red Experience, on the other hand, matches up wines made from the same grape variety, namely Sangiovese. The tasting features 4 different labels made from 100% Sangiovese: Costa di Rose Rosé, Cà Grande, Laurento and Resultum. An authentic immersion into the different nuances of the region’s most versatile and important grape variety, unveiling the beauty behind diversity.
