Oppilo of Pontremoli is situated on a green hill of the Lunigiana. The Lunigiana, the Tuscany's last valley, protected by the regions Emilia and Liguria, is a perfect jewel of landscapes, history and gastronomic traditions. From the company you can reach:
Carrara – marble-quarries 39 km
Versilia – 45 km
Lucca – Pisa – 60 km
The Poets' Gulf (Lerici – Portovenere etc.) 35 km
Cinque Terre – 35 km
In 1898 the farm is acquired by grandfather “Micheletto” from an illustrious person from Pontremoli, Luigi Poletti, poet and mathematician, who exactly in this year wrote a long panegyric for the wine of “Oppilo”, called “il vino del Soglio”. It is given birth to the idea of creating a logo for the wine-bottles with the acquisition year. However, there are more antique traces of the farm, and the village, like e.g. the numbers 1530 which are written in a corner of the wine-cellar, and a stone lintel in the tasting room in which it is cut a Byzantine cross. If we go back to the last century is very important to mention the share-cropper's contribution by the family Fanti, which for more than fifty years has taken care of the vineyards, olive-trees and other products.
Now it is time to present myself: I am Paola Benelli, the company's actual manager, and I would like to toast on grandfather “the good master” of the fifties and sixties, on uncle Luigi who has created the first bottles of “Reserved for friends” conquering a lot of 'fans', to my sister Chiara, the lawyer, who is responsible for the company's actual bases. A special toast to my Father “ORAZIO”, real “Grey Eminence”, who transfers to us and to the guests the love and passion for natural tastes, and for the beauty of our places. Last but not least a toast to all who will read this description - we are ready to welcome you! The farm is characterized by the production of I.G.T. wine, and I.G.P. oil. The wine, known in the whole zone, is exclusively produced with grapes of the zone.
Two I.G.T. wines: The red “Pellera”, from the vineyard bearing the same name, is produced following the traditions of the Tuscany. Only grapes from the Lunigiana are used. The white “Durella” from the vineyard bearing the same name, selected with the help of a collaboration of the university of Pisa - in the ninties it is the first example of a pure wine from the Lunigiana. The company oil is gained from biological (non treated) olives following the modern rules of harvesting and squeezing. It is a native oil with an intense but delicate smell. The company is trying to obtain not only the territorial DOP recognition but also the certificate of a “biological product”. The company makes part of the Tuscany's wine street “Hills of Candia and Lunigiana”. The farm offers an apartment with: kitchen, two double-rooms, bath-room and terrace with a beautiful view over the valley. The apartment is completely independent from the rest of the building.