The degli Azzoni estate is situated in the Marche region of Central Italy, facing the Adriatic Sea, a few kilometres from Macerata and Recanati, in the hilly country made famous by the poet Giacomo Leopardi.
The estate (around 850 hectares) is farmed directly by the owners with the aid of more than 50 farm workers. In parallel with traditional produce like wheat, maize, barley and sugar beet, vegetables such as peas, French beans, spinach, pumpkins, peppers, radicchio and aromatics plants like basil, parsley, nettles and rocket are also grown. With twenty years of experience to date, the firm is one of the most important producers of fresh basil, the basis ingredient of Italian pesto.
All the degli Azzoni wine is produced and bottled on the estate (130 hectares of vineyards). The principal varieties of vine are Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Maceratino and Grechetto, along with international classics like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Another 25 hectares are given over to the cultivation of American vines.
A few years ago, the degli Azzoni family converted a country house into a restaurant, now called the Locanda Cantalupo. Today, their wines can be presented to a wider public and traditional recipes are on offer at the restaurant. Accommodation is also available.
One brother of degli Azzoni family cultivates organic basil, wheat, maize and barley.
The wine cellars on the degli Azzoni estate are in the village of Montefano (Macerata) where the head-office is also located. Built in the 1950s, the premises have been fully renovated the past few years.
Today, with all due respect to the past, the up to date machinery works more than 1,700,000 kilos of grapes. The tanks are in stainless steel or cement, and fitted with thermal control system.
The original cellar still forms part of the family house where today are placed the barriques used for the ageing and the improvement of reserve wines. Part of the wine is sold directly from the cellar in 5 litre glass jars or in "bag in boxes" , the rest by bottle.
The bottled white wines are: COLLI MACERATESI DOC, GRECHETTO and BIANCO DI CANTALUPO; the reds are: ROSSO PICENO DOC, GALEOTTO, ROSSO CANTALUPO and PASSATEMPO.