Le Tese

Le Tese is the result of decades of observation, recovery, and conscious agricultural choices. At Romanelli, the decision to focus on Trebbiano Spoletino was not driven by trend, but by a desire to reconnect with a variety deeply rooted in the rural history of the Spoleto area, long cultivated yet often overlooked.

Through years of studying the estate’s parcels, Romanelli identified specific vineyard areas capable of expressing Trebbiano Spoletino with clarity and tension. This led to the decision to vinify and bottle grapes from selected zones separately, giving rise to a small group of wines that reflect distinct sites and identities. Le Tese emerges from this philosophy: a white wine born from old vineyards, including plots cultivated using vite maritata, an ancient method in which vines grow supported by trees. This system naturally limits production, encourages loose bunches, and supports slow, even ripening — a crucial element for a grape known for its late harvest.

The surrounding landscape is integral to the wine’s character. The vineyards sit among olive groves, woodlands, and gently rolling hills, shaped by centuries of mixed farming. Clay soils, moderate altitude, and a mild climate allow Trebbiano Spoletino to ripen fully while preserving acidity and freshness.

Le Tese is conceived as an honest interpretation of this context: a wine that speaks of time, agricultural memory, and restraint rather than intervention.

Le Tese presents in the glass with a deep golden yellow colour, characteristic of wines produced with medium to long skin maceration. The nose unfolds gradually, revealing citrus aromas, yellow-fleshed fruit, and exotic fruit notes, followed by subtle mineral nuances that recall the clay-rich soils of its origin. On the palate, the wine is broad and layered, with a dense, almost tactile texture that fills the mouth without heaviness. A vibrant, well-integrated acidity provides tension and balance, carrying the wine into a long, savoury, and persistent finish.

Pairing: Local cheeses and cured meats, vegetarian starters, and dishes centred on black truffle.

The story of Romanelli is inseparable from the landscape of Montefalco and from a way of farming that predates modern specialization. Located on the hills of Colle San Clemente, overlooking the valleys that stretch toward Spoleto and Trevi, the estate has developed over three generations as a mixed agricultural system in which viticulture and olive growing coexist as complementary expressions of the same land.

Founded in 1978, the Romanelli family chose from the outset to root their work in a deep understanding of their territory rather than in short-term trends. Over the decades, this approach has translated into patient observation of individual parcels, soils, microclimates, and vine behaviour, leading to a gradual refinement of both vineyard management and winemaking choices. Today, the estate encompasses approximately 30 hectares of land, including vineyards and olive groves, cultivated with a constant focus on balance, biodiversity, and long-term sustainability.

Viticulture at Romanelli is shaped by continuity rather than disruption. The vineyards are integrated into a broader rural ecosystem marked by olive trees, woodland, and open hillsides, where agricultural practices have evolved slowly over time. This context informs the estate’s preference for restrained intervention, careful manual work, and the preservation of traditional methods whenever they continue to serve quality and site expression.

A defining element of Romanelli’s philosophy is the decision to vinify and bottle grapes from specific vineyard areas separately. Decades of study of the estate’s parcels revealed meaningful differences even within short distances, encouraging a parcel-based approach aimed at highlighting distinct identities rather than blending them away. From this vision emerged the estate’s cru wines, each linked to a particular site and agricultural history.

Within this framework, the recovery of Trebbiano Spoletino holds special significance. Long cultivated in Umbria but often overlooked, this variety found renewed attention at Romanelli through the restoration of an old vineyard which is still trained using vite maritata, an ancient system in which vines grow supported by living trees. This method, once widespread in central Italy, naturally limits yields, promotes loose bunches, and supports slow, even ripening — conditions particularly well suited to a late-ripening grape such as Trebbiano Spoletino.

The decision to preserve vite maritata alongside more contemporary training systems reflects Romanelli’s broader attitude: tradition is not treated as nostalgia, but as a practical resource when it proves agronomically and qualitatively sound. This coexistence of old and modern methods defines the estate’s identity and underpins its wines.

In the cellar, the same philosophy applies. Winemaking choices are guided by the character of the grapes and the intention to allow time to play an active role in shaping the wines. Extended skin contact, late harvests, and patient ageing are employed not to pursue stylistic effect, but to translate the structure, acidity, and natural balance of the fruit into wines capable of evolving over years rather than seasons.

Romanelli’s work with wine is inseparable from its work with olive oil, another expression of the same land and seasonal rhythm. After the grape harvest, attention shifts to the olive groves, where local varieties are harvested and pressed to produce oils that mirror the estate’s agricultural values: precision, restraint, and respect for raw material.