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Villa Simone – Elegance, innovation and tradition from the heart of Lazio
Welcome to the fascinating world of Villa Simone, one of the most prestigious wineries in the Lazio region. Just a few kilometers from Rome, in the historically rich area around Frascati and Monte Porzio Catone, wines are created here that unite past and future in every bottle. With great passion, sustainable practices, and an uncompromising commitment to quality, the Costantini family produces wines with a unique character – above all, the exquisite Frascati Superiore DOCG Riserva.
A story of passion and vision
The story of Villa Simone begins in the 1980s, when Piero Costantini acquired Cardinal Pallotta's historic estate in Monte Porzio Catone. At that time, Frascati was internationally known, but rarely considered a quality wine. Piero Costantini had a clear mission: he wanted to redefine Frascati – as a top-tier wine with depth and elegance, capable of competing with Italy's great wines.
To achieve this, he replanted high-quality, indigenous grape varieties such as Malvasia del Lazio (Malvasia Puntinata), deliberately reduced yields, and consistently modernized cellar technology. This pioneering work laid the foundation for what Villa Simone is today: a flagship project for wine quality in Lazio.
Today, the winery is run by Lorenzo Costantini, Piero's son and a renowned oenologist. With a clear focus on sustainability, authenticity, and craftsmanship, he continues his father's philosophy – and elevates it to a new level.
The vineyards – origin with history
Villa Simone manages several valuable single vineyard sites on volcanic soil – each with its own microclimate, character and history:
- Vigneto Falconieri: Directly adjacent to Villa Falconieri, the oldest of the famous Tuscolan villas. Besides an experimental plot with historic grape varieties, the vineyard also houses a small open-air wine museum. The main grape variety here is Malvasia del Lazio.
- Vigneto Filonardi: A vineyard steeped in tradition with mineral-rich volcanic soils. Here, the estate's most powerful and age-worthy Frascati wines are produced. Since 2016, the wine from this vineyard has carried the DOCG Riserva designation.
- Other vineyard sites such as Massarosa, Selciatella, Vermicino, and Torricella complete the mosaic of terroirs. The vineyards lie at altitudes of 300 to 550 meters, rich in lava rock and potassium, which imparts freshness, salinity, and structure to the wines.
Sustainability & craftsmanship – the philosophy of Villa Simone
The vines are cultivated using Guyot and Cordone Speronato training systems, with a moderate density of 4,500 vines per hectare. The focus is on natural cultivation methods with minimal use of pesticides and exclusively organic fertilization.
The grapes are harvested exclusively by hand, with yields limited to a maximum of 90 hl/ha – significantly below the permitted amount. The aim is to capture the full potential of the grape varieties in concentrated form in the bottle.
The winery – where technology meets intuition
The Villa Simone winery was built into the hillside in 1986 and equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Vinification takes place at controlled temperatures in stainless steel tanks with inert gas to prevent oxidation. Depending on the style, the wines mature either on their fine lees or in barriques stored in an underground bottaia – over 100 French oak barrels provide space for complex aging processes.
The bottling takes place directly on site using a state-of-the-art isobaric bottling plant (2,000 bottles per hour) to guarantee absolute freshness and hygiene.
Villa Simone – the best that Lazio has to offer
Villa Simone demonstrates that Frascati can be far more than just a light summer wine. Here, wines with terroir, depth, and a future are created, vinified with meticulous handcraft, regional identity, and technological expertise. Every drop tells a story of the unique volcanic soil and the will of a family to create something great.
Discover the wines of Villa Simone now – and taste what Lazio is truly capable of.
Key Facts – Villa Simone at a glance:
- Location : Monte Porzio Catone / Frascati (Lazio)
- Grape varieties : Malvasia del Lazio, Malvasia di Candia, Trebbiano, Greco, Bombino
- Soils : Volcanic origin, lava rock, mineral-rich
- Sustainable : Low yield, organic fertilization, minimal intervention
- Founded : 1982, currently in its second generation under Lorenzo Costantini
- Expansion : Stainless steel tanks + barriques (over 100 pieces)
- Specialties : Frascati Superiore DOCG Riserva, Experimental Malvasia blends