The vineyards of the company are located in the Valpolicella area and they spread across the vulcanic soil of the hills surrounding Soave. The 89 hectares (220 acres) of vineyards are made up of 54 hectars (133.5 acres) that are property of the Pasqua family, and 35 hectares (86.5 acres) belonging to growers who are linked to the Estate by remunerative long-term cooperative contracts.
The Castello di Montorio vineyard covers the hillside that lies beneath the ancient castle of the village of Montorio, in the eastern part of the Valpolicella. It is also referred to as the “archaeological vineyard” because, in this very spot, archaeological digs, carried out by the Office for Monuments and Fine Arts of Verona, discovered ruins of early Christian settlements, such as coins and pottery. It seems, in fact, that this area, around the 7th and 5th century BC, used to be one of the most developed site outside the city of Verona, and remained so until the Roman era, the period in which the Castle appears to have been built. In support of this thesis, an ancient boundary wall of about two metres (6.5 ft.) high remains perfectly visible, standing between two of the ledges of the vineyard.
There are still many mysteries and secrets linked to the history of Montorio’s Castle. According to legend, indeed, Austrian soldiers constructed an underground passage that led all the way to the centre of Verona: this tunnel, several miles long, apparently passed under the River Adige and emerged right in the Arena itself. Another story, though, recounts how the fabled “Libro del Comando” (“The Book of Commands”) is hidden in some inaccessible dungeon of the Castle. This is a collection of magic formulas that would allegedly enable whoever possessed it to command the elements, fly or find treasures. It is said that, once upon a time, books such as this were very widespread in the mountains around Verona, and that the priests organized periodical bonfires of such objects
Area under vine: 8 ha. (20 acres)
Exposure:north-east
Soil: stony; limestone-based
Year when planted: 1997 – further planting took place in 1999
Varieties: the classic Valpolicella grapes and Merlot
Training system: Espalier
Pruning system: Guyot
Density: 4,200 vines/ha. (1,700/acre)
The Mizzole vineyard is situated by the road that crosses the Squaranto Valley on the way to Mizzole, a small village in the province of Verona,east of the Valpolicella Classica. It is a hilly area, bordering to the east with the Villa Beretta, and to the north, along the ridge of the hill, it lies just below the old line of Austro-Hungarian fortifications that lead to the Preara Fort. Within this area, an ancient monolith called the “Pilotòn” was discovered, which, it is claimed, was used as a point of reference during the construction of Roman Verona. The "Pilotòn" is a “pole” of stone dating back to the Bronze Age. It must once have been about four metres (13 ft.) tall, and it stands in an area that was then considered to be sacred: the only zone of basaltic rock in the neighborhood
Area under vine: 20 ha. (49 acres)
Exposure: north-east
Soil: stony; limestone-based
Year when planted: 1975, with further planting up until 2000
Varieties: the classic Valpolicella grapes, along with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
Training systems: Pergola and Espalier
Pruning systems: Guyot and Cordon Spur
Density: between 2000 and 7000 vines/ha. (810-2,830/acre)
The Terre di Cariano vineyard is located in San Pietro in Cariano, the most southerly village within the historical Valpolicella Classica, around 20 km (12.5 miles) from the centre of Verona. This area, which includes the three valleys of Negrar, Marano and Fumane, is traversed from North to South by streams. These run down from the mountains and flow into the River Adige. The area lies at altitudes which vary between 70 (230 ft.) and 400 metres (1310 ft.) above sea level. Thanks to the influence of the Lessini Mountains, the Dolomites and Lake Garda, it benefits from a very mild and temperate climate. The soil is rich in minerals and is made up predominantly of limestone, with areas of basaltic tuff.
Area under vine: 26.40 ha. (65.5 acres)
Exposure: south-east
Soil: stony; limestone-based
Altitude: 160 m. (525 ft.) above sea level
Year when planted: 1980
Varieties: the classic Valpolicella grapes (Corvina, Rondinella, Corvinone and Molinara)
Training system: Espalier
Pruning system: Guyot
Density: 5,000 vines/ha. (2,025/acre)
The Mattaranetta vineyard is located a few kilometres North of the centre of Verona, by the village of Montorio, and close to the historic Villa Mattarana that was built in the 13th century. Its name originates from the abbess Mater Anna (Mother Anna), founder of the convent situated once within the Villa.
Area under vine: 15.50 ha. (38 acres)
Exposure: north-south
Soil: clay and limestone
Year when planted: 1997
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Training system: Espalier
Pruning system: Guyot
Density: 5,000 vines/ha. (2,025/acre)
The Brognoligo vineyard is situated in the village of the same name in the commune of Monteforte d’Alpone, within the historic area of the Soave Classico. Brognoligo takes its name from the plums, known in the local dialect as “brogne” (prugne in Italian), which were replaced by wine grapes after being the village’s principal crop for many years,
Area under vine: 8.40ha. (20.8 acres)
Exposure: north-south
Soil: limestone marl
Altitude: 300 m. (985 ft.) above sea level
Year when planted: 1985
Varieties: Garganega and Chardonnay
Training system: Pergola
Pruning system: Pergola
Density: 3,000 vines/ha. (1,215/acre)