The history of Solomeo has always been intertwined with that of its land. Framed by peaceful woods, the profile of the hamlet is reflected on sunny soils which, as the seasons change, are enriched with fruits with the most varied colors and fragrant scents.
These precious gifts of the earth grow and mature slowly in the lands at the edge of the hamlet, where the Agrarian Park was created in 2018, a dream strongly endorsed by the Brunello and Federica Cucinelli Foundation.
The crops follow the rhythms of nature: ancient processes and manual techniques take care of the vineyard, the olive grove and the cultivated land, honoring sacred Mother Earth with each harvest for the genuine goodness of the fruits donated.
The vineyard moves sinuously over land covering five hectares, arranged in rows with soft lines that converge in the two central circles. Inspired by the forms of late-Renaissance gardens, it is particularly reminiscent of the parterre of the Medici Villa della Petraia in Florence.
In the background of the vineyard stands the wine cellar, introduced by the words of Brunello himself:
Mother Earth is a universal sacred value,
and the wine cellar is the temple I dreamed of dedicating to her.
At its entrance is a large sculpture of Bacchus, visible from every part of the vineyard and from Solomeo’s lofty terraces. The stone façade protects the interior of the wine cellar designed with large brick barrel vaults that diffuse the light with a solemn, almost sacred effect.
The grapes of four renowned varieties grow and ripen between the rows of the vineyard: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, originating from the French tradition and common in Italy, and Sangiovese, a variety typical of the central regions of Italy.
Every year, the ancient ritual of the grape harvest marks the life cycle of the vineyard, honoring a tradition deeply connected to the history of these places and their people: between the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, the grapes are harvested by hand and then taken to the Park wine cellar, where the slow process of transformation into wine, nectar of the gods, begins.
The large vats and the classic oak barriques host the first stages of processing, which culminates with ageing in the bottle for no less than three years. A sort of alchemy is repeated at each harvest, bringing the grapes from the vineyard together with its custodians, always creating an infinite number of combinations and shades. This is where Castello di Solomeo arises from; it is a wine produced entirely within the five hectares of the park, respecting the distinctive features of the terroir as well as the sophisticated qualities of the grapes.
For more information about the Solomeo Winery and vineyard, please send us an e-mail and we will be pleased to help you.
The sun, air, water and other natural elements determine the new organoleptic properties in each vintage, marking the life cycle of this vineyard, from the soil in which they take root to the small, round, juicy berries.
At the end of the ageing cycle, each bottle contains a robust, enveloping wine with intense ruby red notes and a velvety and persistent body. Further on, towards Vignaia, comes the olive grove which extends over soft hilly terrain sloping gently upwards towards the town from the Agrarian Park.
Every year, the “Dolce Agogia” olive harvest follows a long tradition that has marked the history of the agricultural wisdom of the Umbrian region for centuries.
The process begins in late autumn: after being harvested by hand, the olives are taken to the mill where, slowly and carefully, their leaves are removed and they are washed and dried before being pressed.
Cold extraction and bottling are the last stages of processing that see the birth of a noble, fragrant oil, with an intense color and a bold yet enveloping flavor.
The Agrarian Park is also home to fruit trees, cultivated land and fields of colorful flowers that frame the view of the hamlet of Solomeo in the background: from spring to late summer, the earth is tinged with colorful shades ranging from yellow to orange, intense like the sun, through to shades of pink and indigo.
At the entrance to the hamlet, the fields cultivated with wheat, corn, sunflowers and alfalfa renew the ancient tradition: a story in which land, nature, man and beauty are inextricably linked to each other, now as in the past.
