Raffaldini Vineyards
The Raffaldini family dates back to the year 1348 in the town of Mantua, located in the Northern Province of Lombardy, Italy. Since that time, our family has owned and continues to live on the farm where the great classical poet-philosopher Virgil spent his youth. The romantic town of Verona, home to the ill-fated lovers Romeo and Juliet, lies just to the east.
The Raffaldini family motto, “Audentes Fortuna Iuvat” means, “Fortune favors he who dares.” This Latin phrase originates from the Aeneid, Virgil’s most famous work. Born in 70 BC during the reign of Julius Caesar, Virgil is best known as the author of this epic poem that links the birth of Rome to the Trojan War.
The fusion of family, food and wine is an integral part of our daily life. For more than six hundred and fifty years, the Raffaldini family has witnessed many historic events and has often marked such occasions with special family dinners and homemade Italian wine.
The Raffaldini family made a decision to share our centuries-old winemaking experience with the New World. After a long and exhaustive search for land that would reflect this experience, Raffaldini Vineyards was established in the Swan Creek area of the Yadkin Valley. From this vineyard, we handcraft our Italian wines; wines that express not only their “sense of place”, but also utilize winemaking skills that have been refined throughout the ages.
As you enter our tasting room, let the spirit of the Raffaldini family history, importance of family and celebration of life transport you to our ancestral home. The wine, food and artwork within hold deep meaning for the Raffaldini family and we are delighted to share them with you. Close your eyes as you taste our wine and imagine what it would have been like to celebrate life so long ago…
The Location
We reviewed more than sixty possible locations for the vineyard. We chose our site based upon the rocky, schist-based soil, northern and eastern aspects, excellent drainage and a near constant breeze. We are also blessed with incomparable mountain views.
The Grapes
We planted more than thirty different grape varieties and clones to understand what varieties thrive in this unique macro and micro-climate. Vines not capable of expressing their inherent character were replanted with other varieties.
The Vineyard
We believe that fewer grapes on a vine produce more fruitful wine, so we harvest at a low two tons an acre. We continuously hedge the vines to provide optimal sunlight and turn clusters by hand to insure balanced exposure. We apply a holistic spray program relying heavily on organic and natural sprays.
The Harvest
We conduct numerous harvest passes of the same grape variety, as we believe that each grape cluster ripens on its own schedule rather than at our convenience. Upon harvest, the grapes are immediately placed in a cold room to encourage balance between sugar and acidity.
The Sorting
Every grape cluster is hand-sorted, one at a time, just prior to pressing. The material sorted out is returned to the vineyard and becomes part of the organic compost we recycle back into the vineyard.
The Maceration
We are firm believers in letting the juice of the grapes have as much contact with their skins as possible. This extended maceration produces more intense and multi-dimensional wine.
The Aging Process
We do not oak our white wines for we believe that white wines are at their best when they are subtle, fragrant and delicate. Our red wines age in oak that is toasted with hot air convection rather than the far more commonly used open flame fire method. This allows us to deliver the exact profile that we are seeking to coax from the grape.
The Promise
At Raffaldini, we believe that one’s reputation takes a lifetime to build but can be lost in the blink of an eye. In making wine since 1348, we have learned over the centuries that patience, a willingness to take risks and to choose the path rarely taken is the legacy that we are most proud of. Our commitment to you is to honor this philosophy and relentlessly pursue our utmost efforts on your behalf.
Salute! |
