Chi siamo - Tenuta De Melis

“Our wines capture all the aromas of the land, its culture and agricultural traditions.”

Carmine

Once, the vineyard was a place where people would meet face to face, shaking hands to reinforce trust, cooperation, respect and friendship.

Those shared moments, sitting around a chequered tablecloth laid out on the ground, were beautiful and heartfelt.

There was a spirit of mutual support.

That’s where our story begins.

A story of scents, passion and Nature.

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THE STORY OF A FAMILY DEVOTED TO WINE

The first embrace comes at dawn, and it comes from Nature itself – you just need to look. Before us and all around, the Terre dei Vestini: lands devoted to viticulture, territories that tell stories reaching far back in time.
The protagonists of one of these stories are Valeria, Stefano and Arianna. Ever since they were little, they have spent sunny summer days helping their father Carmine with the pruning. These are the miracles of a passion that has been nurtured and grown over the years. The passion for a business, theTenuta De Melis Estate Winery, where family is one of the founding values.

“My brother’s Stefano talent became apparent right from the start – says Valeria Tatoni. He’s great at managing the vineyard and all the equipment. As for me, I’ve been drawn to winemaking and all aspects of wine marketing since the days when we used to run through our land as little more than children. Arianna, on the other hand, is still busy with her university studies.”

Years that are, perhaps, in some ways different from those of your peers. What have you learned from Nature?

“Patience, for sure. I have an instinctive nature, but when you look at what’s involved in planting a vineyard you realise that the qualities required are quite different: patience, the discipline to wait, the ability to listen – these are all things that you learn by being in the vineyard.”

What is the most beautiful thing that has happened to you during your entrepreneurial life?

“There isn’t one particular episode – continues Valeria. It’s more of a broader background scenario, like the relationships and bonds that form between people, including the ones with operators from other areas. Developing a region or a product is never an individual challenge, but a shared one. Collective knowledge and harmonious collaboration guarantee the best results.”

Going back to the territory, what are the greatest challenges?

“The main one, at the moment, is working with other producers to push for the recognition of the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) for Montepulciano d’Abruzzo as a product of our area, the Terre dei Vestini. But this is just a starting point.”

Where is Abruzzo’s wine heading?

“Definitely far, far in terms of vision. The years when Abruzzo’s wine was at the back of the pack are behind us; we’re starting to make our mark, especially with Montepulciano.”

To wrap us this chat, the most difficult question: what does it take to make a great wine?

“It takes a lot of work, a lot of skill, a lot of care, but in the end it is Nature that plays the central role. In short, I would answer in dialect using our father Carmine's words: ‘Lu vine le fa lu Padreterne’ – ‘Wine is made by God’.