In feudal times the Montemarte was one of the
leading noble families that settled in the territory to the right of
the Tiber River, administering the areas east of Orvieto towards
Todi from their castles of Montemarte and Corbara. In the land
register of the contado of 1292 Corbara was listed as a castrum, in
the rural parish of Santa Maria de Stiolo, coinciding in good part
with the present estate of Corbara at the spot where the Paglia and
Tiber rivers meet. The habitual residence of the Counts of Corbara
was the castle itself. Even though they were listed at least up to
as the seventeenth century as municipal nobility, their vast
agrarian holdings required personal supervision and were gradually
transformed into farms that were abreast of the times. At the end of
the nineteenth century the estate of Corbara became the property of
the Banca Romana. In 1889/90 the bank financed excavations that
brought to light the Roman port of Pagliano, in opus reticolatum,
located at the confluence of the two rivers. This archaeological
site is of particular historical importance and throws light on the
commercial and economic relations between Rome and the immediate
hinterland. Thanks to continuing studies, protection and restoration
of the structures, this site can now be visited. For over thirty
years the estate has been the proud owner of around 140 hectares of
vineyards. Each vineyard is created under the scrupulous and knowing
control of our enologist, Franco Bernabei and his son Marco,
preceded by a careful evaluation of the microclimate and the soil of
the various holdings of the estate. Among the red grape varieties
(the estate is located entirely within the ambit of DOC Lago di
Corbara) it has been decided to increase the presence of Merlot,
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese and Montepulciano. A
historical clone of the last named, probably dating to 1897, has
been identified on the estate and was reproduced in the spring of
2003 in an area that presented a suitable microclimate. Among the
white grapes (the estate falls into the oldest zone of DOC Orvieto
and can therefore proudly vaunt the term “Orvieto Classico” on its
labels) mention should be made of an interesting clone of Grechetto
that was discovered in the estate.
office (206)
332-1995