Tenuta di Aljano only makes wine with grapes grown at the company; almost all of the 24 hectares of our estate’s vineyards stretch along the slopes of the ancient medieval hamlet of Figno.
We run our vineyard with a special focus on growing native grape varieties, primarily Spergola: a highly prized white grape variety thanks to its characteristic citrusy aromas, notes of green apple and white flowers, and considerable acidity which makes it perfect for making sparkling wine either with the Martinotti method or the Metodo Classico (traditional method). This variety has been grown for centuries only on the hills of Scandiano and Canossa, as indicated by the Protected Designation of Origin specifications of the same name.
Another native grape variety grown at Tenuta di Aljano is Lambrusco Montericco, a red grape. This grape variety gets its name from the village of the same name on the hillside in the municipality of Albinea, the site of an important abbey from the times of Matilda of Tuscany, which counts the poet, Ludovico Ariosto, as one of its abbots. Montericco grapes produce a wine with a fresh, fragrant aroma and hints of violet and forest fruits such as raspberry and wild strawberry.
Other native varieties grown at Tenuta di Aljano include Lambrusco Maestri, Lambrusco Marani, Lambrusco Salamino, Lambrusco Oliva, Malbo Gentile and Sgavetta (red).
We run our vineyards according to advanced integrated pest management protocols. This means that no types of chemical pesticides can be used and that weed control can only be done using mechanical means and without the use of any chemical weed-killers.
Fertilising also does not allow chemical substances, rather only organic soil improvers and manure.
All the processing is done by hand; from dry pruning to harvesting, with complete respect for every single vine plant.
Wherever possible, various species of legumes are sown at the vineyards to improve nitrogen fixation and therefore to help maintain high levels of nutrients in a completely natural way.