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Domain: Cantina Filippi

Filippo Filippi. A rather easy name to remember. Carving his own path in Soave (Veneto), this precise, non-interventionist organic winemaker is a strong contrast to the diluted, high-yield wines produced in the appellation. This is a man deeply attached to the land of his ancestors who have lived and worked on this ancient volcano since the 14th century. And a man who is equally proud of and respectful of his heritage, as evidenced by the splendid building that is Cantina Filippi.

The Cantina Filippi estate is nestled in the heart of the small Italian village of Castelcerino, just above Soave. Since the 14th century, several generations of winegrowers have tended these vines, now averaging 50 to 70 years in age and situated on an ancient volcano at an altitude of around 320 metres. The location itself is steeped in history, as the Colli Scaligeri, meaning ‘Scaligeri Hills’, are named after the great family who ruled Verona and its surroundings from 1260 to 1390 and, by the end of their reign, were unrivalled in power and wealth throughout Italy.
This is where Filippo Filippi was born, and where he decided to take over the estate in 2003. While the wine-producing region of Soave is best known for wines that favour quantity over quality, from the outset this winemaker has focused on producing nectars that reflect their terroirs to the full, in the most natural and environmentally friendly possible way. Every single detail is carefully thought through, including massal selections, low yields and sorting, certified organic and Triple A practices, minimal use of sulphites, fermentation using native yeasts, and low-intervention winemaking…
The result? Authentic, fresh, lively and fruit-forward wines, pleasingly chewy with a slightly tannic mouthfeel. "Filippo produces wine for drinking," explains Paola, whom we met alongside Filippo at the estate.