Famiglia Cotarella

From Monterubiaglio to Montefiascone: three generations, one passion

The roots of the Famiglia Cotarella reach back into the early history of the 20th century: The brothers Antonio and Domenico Cotarella grew grapes in their hometown of Monterubiaglio in Umbria, laying the foundation for a wine family that still shapes the central Italian wine scene today. The decisive step was taken by the second generation: In 1979, brothers Renzo and Riccardo Cotarella founded the Falesco winery in Montefiascone in northern Lazio — with the declared goal of saving the old, almost forgotten grape varieties of the region and restoring the terroir to its rank. Riccardo became one of Italy's most famous oenologists; Renzo shaped an entire era of Italian viticulture as a long-time cellar master at Antinori. Together, they brought both perspectives into the family estate. In 2016, the third generation took over: Dominga and Marta, daughters of Riccardo, as well as Enrica, daughter of Renzo, officially took over the succession — and christened the winery with the name that best expresses the family bond: Famiglia Cotarella. Marta runs the company as CEO, Dominga as President, and Enrica is responsible for marketing and communication.

Volcanic soils, old clones, consistent manual harvest

The heart of the operation lies in the border area between Lazio and Umbria — from Lake Bolsena in the south to the hills around Orvieto in the north. The soils of this area are partly of volcanic, partly of sedimentary origin and give the wines their mineral character and depth. In 1999, the family expanded their holdings significantly: With the purchase of the Azienda Marciliano, about 260 hectares on a hill south of Orvieto in the municipalities of Montecchio and Baschi, the conditions for today's product range profile were created. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, as well as white varieties such as Vermentino and Verdicchio grow on these sites. In the cellar, Famiglia Cotarella relies on fermentation in stainless steel with gentle, daily délestages, followed by carefully dimensioned barrique aging — depending on the wine, between a few months and well over a year. The grapes for the flagship wines Montiano and Sodale are harvested by hand, separated by clone and quality, and brought into the tanks without pumps. In 2017, another chapter was added with the Tuscan estate Le Macioche in Montalcino, which brought Brunello di Montalcino DOCG into the portfolio. The winery also holds a sustainability certification according to the Equalitas standard.

Merlot from Lazio, Roscetto from Lake Bolsena: a range with a clear signature

Famiglia Cotarella has proven over decades that Lazio can do more than just light white wines. The Montiano — a single-varietal Merlot from Lazio IGP — emerged from intensive work with a special Merlot clone that the family has been selecting since 1990. The wine stands for cherry fruit, fine spice, and a silky tannin structure that integrates long barrique aging without masking the fruit character. Positioned directly below it is the Sodale Lazio IGP, also made from Merlot: early-accessible, aromatically precise, named after the Latin term for community — a name that hits the nail on the head regarding the family's intergenerational self-image. With the Ferentano Lazio IGP, the family saved the almost extinct indigenous variety Roscetto from disappearing: A white wine from the area around Lake Bolsena that first made the potential of this grape visible. The Marciliano Rosso Umbria IGP, a cuvée of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from the hill south of Orvieto, matures for at least 16 months in barriques and shows how precise international varieties can become on the volcanic soil of Central Italy. The line is complemented by the Poggio dei Gelsi, a selection of the traditional Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone DOP — a wine that restores substance to a historical denomination that had meanwhile fallen into oblivion.