Veneto Castello di Roncade

Estate Owned by: Baron Vincenzo Ciani-Bassetti | Winemaker: Umberto Trombelli| Extension: 45 ha | Estate Founded: 1930 | Winery Production Total: 200,000 Bottle.

The ‘Castello di Roncade’ is one of the best surviving renaissance country manors in the Veneto area. The Ciani Bassetti family, a noble family originally from Trent, has maintained this beautiful estate for almost two centuries. The estate’s vineyards, a total of forty hectares, can be admired on all sides of the fortified manor. The Baron Vincenzo Ciani Bassetti personally oversees two of the vineyards: ‘La Pantiera’ and ‘Il Teson.’ Teson is particularly special, as it contains the oldest vines of the property: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Together they make up the renowned wine ‘Villa Giustinian Riserva della Casa.’ The clearing of the land, the pruning of the foliage, and many other important tasks in the vineyards are meticulously executed in order to obtain a perfectly balanced yield per plant. The harvest is done by hand, and the grapes are subjected to a careful selection. Baron Vincenzo Ciani Basetti and Claudio, his son, manage all aspects of the wine production and are aided by excellent oenological consultants. Current production totals 250,000 bottles, which are sold worldwide. The goal is to continue to produce only high quality wines, such as those made during the days of the ‘Doges’ of Venice. The origins of the ‘Castello’ date back to medieval times. The emperor Otto II first donated the estate in the year 900 to the counts of ‘Collalto.’ In the fourteenth century, ‘Cangrande della Scala’, the warrior-autocrat from Verona, destroyed the castle. In the sixteenth century, Girolamo Giustinian, a nobleman from Veneto, rebuilt the manor on the remains of the original building. “Villa Giustinian”, a name now synonymous with the great wine, was probably designed by famous renaissance architect Sansovino. The manor was home to the Giustinians for almost four centuries, until the last heir left it to some relatives at the end of the 1800s. During this time the manor was neglected and fell in to a state of abandon. Finally, around 1930, Baron Tito Ciani Bassetti realized the potential of the property and began to produce wine. This legacy has been passed on to the current owner, the Baron Vincenzo Ciani Bassetti, who is also a great wine lover and expert. Since 2006, ‘Castello di Roncade’ wine is available for tasting on Delta Airlines’ business class.