Tenuta Fontana

A Secular Tradition - A Passion Enduring all Over The Years

The Company

Tenuta Fontana is an agricultural company which produces and markets high quality wines, made from carefully selected grapes of Campania region, cultivated on Fontana family’s vineyards between “agro-aversano” and “beneventano” area.

Established in 2009, the Company has its roots in a centuries-old viticulture and production tradition dating back to the 1800’s when the Fontana Family started to dedicate itself to the cultivation of Asprinio grape in the “agro Aversano” area that is today one of the most celebrated places for DOC production. Thanks to fifth generation family members, Mariapina and Antonio Fontana, and with encouragement and support from their parents Raffaele and Teresa Diana, a heritage has become a Company and farmland cultivated with the Asprinio grape has been developed to grow also other products.

Values

The best way to raise awareness of a territory and its resources; history and culture; traditions and typical local culinary dishes, we feel is through wine. Cultivating and producing wine may help to protect and promote environmental awareness while teaching respect for nature. Quality is a universal term valued throughout the world. Our “quality” begins with the respect and care for the land, continues through the cultivation and harvesting of grapes and is found in all our wins. Quality means eco-sustainability, respect for traditions while improving through modernization such as choosing and using best materials for bottling and the best technologies available for production. A balance in history and traditions while developing the future. All these are values which distinguish Tenuta Fontana.

Mission

Our mission is quite ambitious: to produce quality wines at an affordable price and place them in the best restaurants and wine shops throughout the world to promote wines and other products from Campania, expanding their table consumption. Our main goal will remain “quality” in all our products. A team of passionate professionals follows each stage in wine production process: from cultivation of grapes, to the high quality wine in glass. The Fontana Family provides a unique combination of tradition, modernity and innovation, while maintaining a commitment to further improvements.

History

It all began with the Asprinio wine, now produced under the label CIVICO 44 by Tenuta Fontana, an ancient wine of the Campania Region. This white wine has an intense taste, offering a range of fruity and floral scents. The training system for the vines of the Asprinio grape is known as Alberata Aversana, which may be traced back to the ancient Etruscans.

Tenuta Fontana’s history has been formed by (and of) humble people. It has its roots in the so-called “Terra di Lavoro”, when Luigi Fontana and Rosaria Diana, Mariapina and Antonio’s great-great-grandparents, dedicated their care to the Asprinio grape vines in the second half of the 1800’s. The Tenuta Fontana Asprinio is much valued and in high demand. The care for these century-old vines, which need specific attention has been handed down from generation to generation, leading up to the grandfather and father, Antonio Fontana and Raffaele Fontana, of these two young entrepreneurs.

"Mr. Raffaele Fontana recalls"

“September was the most important month of the year to my family”, as Mr. Raffaele Fontana recalls. “Preparations were hectic as everything had to be perfect and ready for the grape harvest. The work of an entire year was at stake. My grandparents were the life and soul of those days. Their house was filled with constant chatter and wonderful scents. Devoted farmers, they hoped for a rich harvest, tired yet relaxed, like those who await awards after hard work. The day before the harvest, the alarm was set to arise from slumber before dawn. All of us, children, adults –sitting on the trailer and still half asleep- we would joyfully depart, heading for those promising vineyards opening out before us in the golden light of dawn. I was always astonished at the rows of vines stretching along the horizon.
The memory of those days as well as a well-established entrepreneurial experience has guided me to set up, with the help of my children, Mariapina and Antonio, “Tenuta Fontana”. My aspiration is for my memories, together with my dreams, to materialize once again. While being aware of our roots and yet with an eye toward the future, we combine a tribute to country traditions while expanding the business. Our intent is to offer quality products which can arouse intense emotions such as those forever engrained by our childhood memories.”

Pietrelcina Family Estate (Tenuta)

The family estate is situated on Pietrelcina’s mountainous slopes, between Benevento and Padre Pio’s birthplace and where he spent most of his life. A humble and simple place where the hills, mostly cultivated with olive trees and wheat, seem to be entwined amongst old classical farmhouses. The Tenuta Fontana estate, which gives name to the Company, is located where Paduli Street joins the narrow road coming from Contrada San Nicola. Not far away, you can see Pietrelcina. Today, on these hills, streets, and contrade, once crossed by Padre Pio, you can breathe a mystical air. It is here that we found the breeding ground to plant our vines.

On the estate which extends 7 hectares, you can find an old manor farmhouse dating back to the 18th century and in which lays the heart of the company. Currently used by the Fontana family to provide guests a unique atmosphere while offering the experience to participate in traditional agricultural activities: grape and olive harvest, and fruit picking.

Events

Intervew and Presentation - Tenuta Fontana - Mariapina Fontana ( Italian )