Location

Via della Repubblica, 9
87010 Mottafollone, Cosenza
Italy

For many centuries the agricultural property in Calabria had been characterized by large feudal estates. In modern times those estates were partitioned in smaller parcels not allowing the establishment, the retention or the transmission of the original wine-making traditions.

The mission of the Boccafolle winery has been to precisely restore the historical Calabrian vines and combine them with contemporary Tuscan wine-making traditions.

Over the last fifteen years, systematic research and ad-hoc interventions at the vineyard were aimed at recovering the antique vine species that were native to the terroir. The company was established in the early 2000s with the objective of identifying local vintage vines based on fragments of written documentation and on the little oral traditions available.

As of today, Boccafolle has been able to reimplant four indigenous qualities of vine: “Greco Nero”, “Magliocco”, “Vujnu” and “Duraca” which are now flourishing in family properties that had been always devoted to viniculture.

Boccafolle vines

The vines of the Boccafolle estate were originally imported by the Greeks. Beginning in the VIII c. BC the Greek colonization of the coasts of the Ionic Sea brought numerous settlements in what is known today as the region Calabria.

The city of Sibari, developed alongside the river Crati was among these new colonies. The historical Sibarian valley is the location of the Boccafolle estate.The Greek colonizers integrated with the indigenous populations and created an improved agricultural and pastoral economy. The Greek mercantile tradition helped the local farmers learn how to trade their goods.

An intense commerce of cereal, legumes, vegetables, oil and wine rapidly developed along the roads that connected the Ionic to the Tyrrhenian Sea. Numerous artifacts have been found along those routes that are a testament of this florid mercantile activity. A bronze votive ax dated VII-VI c. BC found on the shores of the river Rosa that flanks the part of the vineyard in 1846 is currently displayed at the British Museum and is part of the logo of the winery.

Greco Nero

Red-grape vine

Used to make

Magliocco

Once ripe, the grape clusters assume an open shape, elongated and pyramidal. They are usually straggly and composed of one or two sprouts of limited size.

The thick peduncle initially of green color turning into wood color as the harvest approaches. The grape is medium-large of elliptical shape. The skin is extremely thin and pruinose.

The colour after the early September showers appears clearly dark-blue/black. The pulp of light consistency has a hint of floral flavour.

Magliocco

Red-grape vine

Used to make

Magliocco

Once ripe, the grape clusters have a medium-small fairly round shape. They are usually straggly and composed of one or two sprouts of limited size.

The strong peduncle initially of green colour turning into wood colour as the harvest approaches. The grape is medium-large and perfectly round. The skin is quite thick and very pruinose.

The colour after the early September showers appears intensely dark-blue/black. The pulp of high consistency has a sweet flavour, rich of scents of wild berries.

Vujnu

White-grape vine

Used to make

Donna Elena

Once ripe, the grape clusters have a medium-large and elongated shape. They are usually composed of two large sprouts of significant size.

The cluster is compact and has a thick peduncle of green colour. The grape is medium-large and perfectly round. The skin is quite thick, hard and pruinose.

The colour when perfectly ripe is yellow-gold. The pulp has high consistency and sweet flavour. The scents are very intense and contain notes of pear, alyssum and quince.

Duraca

White-grape vine

Used to make

Donna Elena

Once ripe, the grape clusters are medium to medium-large size, long and fairly open. They are typically straggly and composed of one or two large sprouts of significant size.

The peduncle is strong of medium size and green colour. The grape is medium-large, round and sometimes elliptical. The skin is of medium thickness and pruinose.

The colour initially ochre, turns gold when perfectly ripe. The pulp has high consistency and sweet flavour. The scents are very intense and contain notes of fresh fruit, cherry and apricot.

History

Image The village of Mottafollone, site of the Bruno family's home

Year 2020

The cantina is built in the caves under the Bruno`s family home.

In the Sibarian valley the outpost of Balbia was established for the rest and re-supply of merchants along their trading routes. On those fertile and undulating hills multiple agriculture-based activities were flourishing, in particular: apiculture, farming, aviculture and viticulture.

The wines produced in what is now the region of Alta Calabria were appreciated well beyond the limits of nearby territories as proven by the research of the Consortium for the Preservation of the PDO (protected designation of origin) “Terre di Cosenza”.

From the writing of Francesco di Marco Datini (1335-1410) it is possible to have a sense of the extents of the wine trade: from the territories of Alta Calabria reaching as far as Spain, England and France. References to a red-grape wine named “Balbino” can be found in written testimony as old as the notes of Pliny the Elder.

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Boccafolle, Calabrian vineyard

Discover our family-run vineyard

Vineyard

Boccafolle vines

Greco Nero

Magliocco

Vujnu

Duraca

History