LA FARRA - OUTSTANDING HIGH-ALTITUDE WINES FROM THE UNESCO HILLS

FROM THE WIRES...

In 1997, a new chapter began in the story of a family that had been linked for generations to the land and to its traditions of wine production: siblings Adamaria, Innocente and Guido Nardi, moved by a profound respect for the past and a bold vision for the future, decided to carry on the legacy of their parents and founded the La Farra wine estate.

We are on the Prosecco Road, in the heart of the production region of Conegliano Valdobbiadene D.O.C.G., where Prosecco Superiore is made. This special zone, immersed right in the heart of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Hills, a splendid area recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, therefore became the cradle of their vision.

La Farra is a living tribute to the zone that plays host to it, as well as a manifesto for what may be considered the fundamental bond that holds the story of this estate together. The name Farra holds within it traces of age-old history, connected with the Longobard presence in this area. In the language of the Longobards, "Fare" signified those communities based on relationships of kinship or on established agreements, made up of groups of families or individuals descended from a common ancestor. These communities represented the bedrock of the social structure of the Longobard people. In particular, the "Fara" of Soligo was one of these communities, a collection of closely linked families who had established their settlement close to the River Soligo, thus leaving an indelible mark on the toponymy and history of this place.

Like a tree whose roots mingle with the story of the land on which it stands, the estate therefore grafted itself into the fabric of Farra di Soligo, breathing in the essence of its hills and reflecting the beauty of its landscape in its wines. Every day the Nardi siblings, who are now in charge of the company, dedicate themselves to enhancing the value of this legacy by committing themselves to a philosophy of production that embraces respect for nature, both in the vineyards and in the winery.

With a property that covers 25 hectares, the estate has become the stage where the Nardis, true artists in the vineyards, display their passion by giving form and concrete expression to a real “artisan speciality” of the area, in which the Glera grapes from their “heroic” vineyards are cultivated and selected by hand, prior to being transformed and given added value in iconic wines. For the Nardis, who look after every stage of the production process in person, each bunch of grapes is not just fruit, but rather a promise, a potential masterpiece of the art of winemaking. In their world, every gesture, every decision is an act of devotion to quality, a step towards producing outstanding wines each of which tells a tale of the soil, of tradition and of family. Everything is done exclusively by hand, as part of a ritual that brings together man and nature in timeless harmony.

A LEGACY OF THE LAND, A FLAVOUR OF FAMILY, A SPIRIT OF INNOVATION

La Farra is a tangible expression of the dynamic and tireless spirit that the Nardi family has always possessed. Profoundly rooted in caring for and highlighting the special characteristics of its land, the Nardis vinify the grapes from their vineyards in masterly fashion using state-of-the-art winemaking technology, producing wines that stand out with their matchless quality and elegance. The roots of this choice lie deep in the intimate fabric of the family, in which, since a very early age, the destinies of the Nardi siblings have been interwoven with that of their vines, as they shared with their parents not only their work in the vineyards, but also their love and dedication for this noble art.

“Life in our family” say the Nardis, “has always unfolded in symbiosis with the vineyards, sharing, ever since we were young, the difficulties and joys that cultivating vines involves. There are lots of affectionate memories that we have in common, like the ritual of the harvest, lunches among the vines, or the sweet taste of the grapes in the sunshine: these were all an integral part of our days. For us, the vineyards have always been a peaceful refuge, a place where our worries about school melted away and where the beauty of the countryside went hand in hand with the tangible fruits of our parents’ hard work.”

For this reason, when their time at university was over, it seemed natural for them to take over their parents’ company and take the further step represented by vinifying the grapes from their vineyards and bottling their own wines. As long ago as 1992, thanks to the siblings’ suggestion, their father Gian Domenico had started the process of converting the vineyards, orienting the growing techniques towards methods that sought to produce grapes of outstanding quality. The family’s intent, which is still valid today, was to create wines that succeeded in highlighting and promoting the culture of the area where the siblings were born and had spent their childhood. This goal had its foundations in the experience hand down from their parents and grandparents, as well as in the technical skills that Innocente had gained by attending the School of Winemaking in Conegliano.

Today, La Farra is a fairly small estate, due to the fragmentation of property that is typical of the zone, with an area under vine of 25 hectares, which the family cultivates in person. They vinify mainly the grapes that come from their own vineyards, situated in Farra di Soligo (the majority of their holdings), Pieve di Soligo, Follina and San Pietro di Feletto, a fact that allows them to have direct control over the quality of the grapes that arrive at the winery and so guarantee an excellent end product. Currently, the estate produces over 700,000 bottles a year, which it sells predominantly abroad, especially in Europe, the United States, Japan and Australia.

LA FARRA: A SYMPHONY FROM THE HILLS, A MODERN HARMONY

La Farra’s vineyards tell a story made up of almost heroic deeds, to cultivate strips of land that nature has rendered problematic. “Perhaps the greatest appeal of this marvellous area” say the Nardis “is the passion and dedication with which the men and women here work on every tiny space of the hillsides that are exposed to sunlight, even those where just keeping on your feet is difficult, and which has led to the excellence of Prosecco Superiore Conegliano Valdobbiadene D.O.C.G. being known and appreciated all over the world.”

It is onto such a narrative that a modern, rigorous form of viticulture has been grafted, conducted with total respect for the environment. La Farra’s are in fact plantings that favour the quality of the grapes, as well as guaranteeing greater safety when carrying out pruning and harvesting but without having an adverse effect on the morphology of the countryside. All operations in the high hillside vineyards are performed exclusively by hand. The estate’s vineyards lie in the central area of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene zone, in the communes of Farra di Soligo (for the main part), Pieve di Soligo, Follina and San Pietro di Feletto. This location allows La Farra to grow grapes of particularly high quality, which offer a perfect combination of the floral aromas that are typical of the soils of Valdobbiadene with the tanginess that comes from those of Conegliano.

“We are absolutely convinced that - to obtain outstanding wines – it is essential to preserve and maintain intact the characteristics of the grapes we grow in those vineyards which, in this area, enjoy the best conditions in terms of soil and climate. For this reason, our production philosophy is to highlight as far as possible the natural vocation of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene D.O.C.G. zone for producing grapes and wines that are particularly elegant, fragrant and refreshing. To this end, the knowledge handed down from one generation to the next is absolutely fundamental, combined with wine education and the use of the finest winemaking equipment, such as a modern plant for controlling temperatures during the phase of vinification and storage of the base wines, a state-of-the-art system for carrying out the natural prise de mousse in autoclaves, a completely automated isobaric bottling plant, as well as the use of the most up-to-date oenological expertise. These are the elements that allow us to maintain intact the sensations and emotions that nature instils in the grapes that we cultivate.” From these vineyards, with

their varied soils and characteristics, come the excellent Glera grapes used for the production of the estate’s Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G.. The outstanding winemaking interpretations of La Farra’s Prosecco Superiore, in the styles of Millesimato (vintage) Rive di Farra di Soligo, Extra Dry, Brut and Frizzante, stem in fact from selecting the best grapes cultivated on the high hillsides of the D.O.C.G., and they seek to represent the height of quality available in the production zone.

Some of the estate’s vineyards also lie at the foot of the hills, in the flat area where Prosecco D.O.C. Treviso is produced. The “Treviso” appellation bears witness to a zone that has contributed to making Prosecco well known and making it an indisputable icon of the Italian style of drinking.

Lastly, the estate also produces a limited quantity of Pinot Grigio delle Venezie D.O.C., with grapes that come from some old vineyards already cultivated by the grandfathers and uncles of the Nardi siblings.

Each of the siblings is responsible for a specific aspect of the company, thus guaranteeing direct control over all of the estate’s operations. This synergistic approach lies at the heart of any family-run business, and here at this estate it expresses itself in a triumphant manner. Innocente devotes himself principally to the management of the vineyards and of the administrative aspects. Guido is in charge of supervising the winery. Both of them, apart from being enthusiastic vine-growers, constantly update and apply the knowledge they acquired at Italy’s oldest School of Winemaking, in Conegliano. This institution, one of the area’s academic and cultural gems, has made a major contribution to improving vine cultivation methods for Prosecco and developing the local culture of making sparkling wines, taken to the highest levels in terms of quality and technology here in the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene zone and recognised all

over the world. Last but not least, Adamaria runs the commercial side with commitment, care and passion, and looks personally after the estate’s hospitality for its clients, in order to turn every their every experience here into an unforgettable memory.

Dynamic, rigorous and environmentally friendly viticulture therefore leads to direct control of the entire production process and to top quality in the finished product. The estate also has SQNPI certification for integrated pest management. Since 2011 it has adopted the Viticultural Protocol of the Producers’ Consortium for Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco D.O.C.G. and does not use herbicides in its vineyards. As the Nardis say: “We aspire every day to highlight and divulge the virtues and splendour of our area among consumers, by telling them in a sincere and authentic way about the quality of our wines, as well as by promoting farming practices that protect the environment and people’s health. We would like to introduce our wines into new countries, so that their consumers can discover our estate’s history and the intense love, passion and commitment that we put into our work

every day.”

THE FARMSTEAD: HEART AND LEGACY OF A VITICULTURAL TERROIR

Situated on the enchanting Prosecco Wine Road, in the heart of the picturesque mosaic-like landscape of the Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, La Farra offers a wine tourism experience that is a real voyage of the senses, from the vine to the glass. And it was due to the Nardi family’s desire to make known the attractions and distinctive characteristics of these hills, nestling in the heart of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene D.O.C.G. zone, recognised in 2019 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, that the estate designed and created (in 2023) the “La Farra" Wine Tourism Project. This initiative, conceived by siblings Adamaria, Innocente and Guido, is intended to satisfy the growing interest of wine lovers for immersing themselves in the fascinating world of heroic viticulture that lies behind the exquisite wines of La Farra. The wine tourism itinerary winds its way from the winery, passing through the vineyards in the hills before arriving at the Belvedere La Farra, a charming, sunlit farmstead immersed in the heroic vineyards belonging to the Nardi family. “The project of refurbishing the farmstead was based on the real need for sharing our experiences that my brothers and I all felt extremely strongly” says Adamaria Nardi. “It is in fact a corner of our world that we have always enjoyed very intensely and that we wanted to open up to others. It is more than just a place: it is the incarnation of a profound connection with the land that surrounds it. The wine that we make here is in fact interpreted by us as a fragment of a much larger cosmos, intrinsically interwoven with the very essence of this zone, of which our farmstead is both a symbol and an ambassador.” “Our decision to promote the Casolare (farmstead)” Innocente Nardi continues, “is rooted in the hope that we too can contribute to the legacy handed down to us by the generations that preceded us. You only have to consider that this building is situated in the picturesque hamlet of Rive dei Nardi, a hill that fits into its surroundings with a supreme harmony. Here, in the midst of the hills dotted with the vineyards that have historically always belonged to the Nardi family, the farmstead has established itself as a symbol of the art of vine-growing in this area, the theatre of the hard work and dedication that have been handed down to us: values that we have chosen to honour and perpetuate. It was in this spirit that we decided to invest in renovating the building, with the intention of opening its doors to those who share our philosophy and wish to discover the spirit that is hidden in every glass of wine produced by La Farra. Our desire is in fact that of sharing not only our wine but also the difficulties and peculiarities of this terroir, which cannot be compared with any other in the world. The steepness of its hills, its distinctive sounds, its unique microclimate: these are all elements that combine to form an unrepeatable mosaic.”

From an architectural point of view, the Nardis have decided to follow a historical line, adopting a minimalist approach and using local materials. The ancient stables – once the heart of a self-sufficient production cycle – have therefore been transformed into a space that reflects their identity. The operation of replanting the vineyards has also been carried out with the objective of highlighting the typical characteristics of these hills that have been recognised as a UNESCO Heritage Site, such as the ciglioni, the zone’s typical terraces, and promoting the cultivation of Glera, an indigenous grape variety.

The result is a welcoming environment, full of intense sensations, on two floors, in which visitors can (after prior booking) immerse themselves in a unique experience, sample the refined wines of La Farra, and enrich their knowledge of local culture thanks to a carefully selected collection of books.

The Belvedere La Farra is in fact not only a venue for tastings, but also a cultural destination where tourists can learn all about the history and traditions of these hills. To this end, a library with the books of Andrea Zanzotto and other local writers has been created inside: texts that are available for visitors, who can devote themselves to reading with, in front of them, the hilly countryside so beloved and eulogised by Zanzotto. This space therefore allows them to explore the various nuances of the zone and admire the fatigue and dedication of the generations of vignaioli who have fashioned an agricultural landscape of extraordinary beauty, composed of small vineyards interspersed with woods and uncultivated areas, which together form an efficient ecological network of inestimable and unchanging value.

As regards the itinerary for wine tourists, about 3 km long and taking 40-50 minutes on foot, this follows the historic Road towards the Sanctuary of Collagù, appreciated both by the local inhabitants and by lovers of excursions in the countryside. Indeed, your walk can be extended as far as the Sanctuary itself, known for its characteristic blade-like shape like that of a "pointy hill", to the village of Collagù or to the little church of San Gallo. On your return, you can enjoy a brief guided tour of the winery and buy our wines. «This project stems from our desire for members of the trade and consumers alike to enjoy the unique experience of the “Heroic Rive” (steep vineyards), the real heart of the Valdobbiadene Prosecco D.O.C.G. We want to offer them a chance to immerse themselves in the magnificent countryside and savour the culture of our area, also by reading the works of local authors or guides that reveal details on the wonders of the area, its architecture, popular traditions and, of course, our wines» says Innocente Nardi. This immersive experience is an invitation to explore the terroir and its culture, in which wine stands out as an elegant and harmonious icon.

The area of Farra di Soligo also offers numerous extraordinary nature trails for those who wish to discover the authentic aspects of this enchanting zone. Thanks to these pleasant excursions, you can in fact reach the Towers of Credazzo, ancient fortifications erected most probably by the Da Camino family in the thirteenth century on top of much older ruins, the many little churches strewn around the hills (San Lorenzo, San Vigilio, San Martino, San Gallo) as well as the fascinating village of Collagù, from which you can admire some splendid panoramas.

Also of notable cultural, architectural and artistic interest are – nearby – the Romanesque Abbey of Follina, the Castel Brando at Cison di Valmarino and the Mulinetto (mill) della Croda at Refrontolo, and - a little further away - in Conegliano, the famous paintings by Cima as well as Italy’s oldest School of Winemaking. Then, just 20 km away, there are the historic district of Serravalle in Vittorio Veneto, Villa Barbaro at Maser, as well as the delightful little town of Asolo and the Canova Plaster Cast Museum at Possagno.

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