Tenuta del Conte

Tenuta del Conte is a family owned winery based in Cirò Marina, which is an area of the Ionian coast that is particularly suited to the production of vines. The estate covers about 15 hectares of vineyards, with another 2 hectares dedicated to the cultivation of olive trees. The winery is managed by the Parilla family, who have been cultivating the land in the beautiful Cirò area for four generations. Mariangela, Giuseppe and Caterina are the new faces of the estate and have inherited the passion and determination of their father Francesco. In 2004, the winery decided to transform itself into a winemaking company, selling its own wines and abandoning the practice of supplying grapes to local producers. In 2010 it began to follow the principles of the organic approach in the vineyard, which was the first big step towards becoming an artisanal winery. 2011 was the turning point in a new path that Mariangela particularly desired, as, in addition to becoming a mother, she transformed the winery into an all-round artisanal establishment. Mariangela decided to focus on a healthy and genuine production, aimed at enhancing the value of the land and the local vines, in particular Gaglioppo, Greco Bianco and a small part of Trebbiano Toscano (present for years in these lands). In recent years it also became an active member of the Cirò Revolution, which was a movement involving a number of exponents of the local artisanal wine industry. This was aimed at enhancing the value of an area that had been neglected for too long and at producing genuine, local wines that were no longer shaped by international tastes.

The area where Tenuta del Conte is located is a true Mediterranean pearl. It is situated in the small town of Cirò Marina, in the Crotone area, on the coast of the Ionian Sea which is protected by the heights of the Sila mountains. In this timeless place, known in ancient times as Enotria, or 'land of wine', a true enological masterpiece can be found. The climatic conditions seem to be perfectly suited for cultivation, as the proximity of the sea, the influence of the high hills, the dry soils and the Mediterranean breezes allow for high-quality viticulture. The Tenuta del Conte vineyards are located in this natural environment, rich in biodiversity, and are cultivated without the use of herbicides or chemicals. Some, dating back to the 1960's, were planted by Francesco and are divided into 4 different sections (terre rosse, marinetto, almerìa, ponta) which grow on different soils, composed of calcareous clay, red clay and white clay. Fermentation takes place spontaneously with indigenous yeasts and is not subject to filtration or invasive processes. Ageing is carried out in steel and then in the bottle.

The wines of Tenuta del Conte have a Calabrian soul, and they are straightforward and genuine, Mediterranean and sunny, just like their land. They know exactly how to convey the most authentic notes of the territory, condensing them into liquids of great territorial authenticity. These reds, whites and orange wines offer a valuable quality/price ratio and are perfect for the everyday table or to be paired with tasty Mediterranean dishes. As Marinagela says: "I want the territory of Cirò to be inside my bottle".