The Contadi Castaldi tradition is dynamic, deeply linked to its roots and as lively as it is contemporary. The name is a synthesis of the most ancient history of Franciacorta: in the Middle Ages the contadi were small geographical areas renamed for their outstanding agricultural production, while the castaldi were the lords to whom the lands were entrusted. Vittorio Moretti and his wife Mariella wanted to reconnect with this noble past, starting with the purchase of an old disused brickworks and the surrounding land. Contadi Castaldi was founded in the late 1980s, thanks to novel intuition and the ability to translate yet another dream into tangible reality. The brickworks soon became a winery, thanks to a conservative restoration that made it suitable for this new use without distorting its original design. The ancient workplace changed its function, turning to the land and the vineyard and keeping intact the area’s form and suitability for wine production.

THE MODERN TRADITION OF FRANCIACORTA

A mosaic of vineyards and winemakers in Adro. The name seems to have several etymological roots. Ader means a bright, calm, fiery and sunny place, while in ancient parlance, Adrusco referred to a town with numerous vineyards. The fact remains that since time immemorial, Adro has cultivated the vine, a fact that is illustrated by the bunches of grapes that feature in the municipality’s coat of arms. The area’s climate is mild and temperate. Monte Alto provides protection from the north winds and the fogs of the Po Valley, while the soils are composed of marine sedimentary rocks: limestone, marl and sandstone. An immense zoning project began from here that concerned the whole of Franciacorta, its terroirs and its varieties. The geological and microclimatic variations of the vineyards, the different methods of cultivation, the characteristics and the varieties of the grapes are the company’s closely guarded secret.

Vision, precision and feet on the ground

It is the great heritage of vines, which extends throughout Franciacorta and provides a wide range of aromas and flavours, that determines the style of Contadi Castaldi. On the one hand there is the generosity of nature, while on the other, the task of man is to translate these immense resources into wine. To make the most of each harvest, the creation of the cuvée is fundamental. The orchestra must be able to highlight every single artist; this is the moment when all the elements are assembled to create the unmistakable Contadi Castaldi style. This is how the winery’s Traditional Method (Metodo Classico) wines are finetuned, finding the right balance, freshness, vision and expressions of terroir.