Wineries change hands over time, but you do not often hear of a winery with a vineyard going from monks to lay people. Monte del Frà is one of those wineries and we are lucky to have the winery attending VanWineFest 2024. Their wines are in our market already, but you can get a chance to speak with a winery principal and maybe taste some wines brought specially for the Festival. Here is information about the winery, by the winery.
From the Winery
The estate was founded as a monastery by friars from Santa Maria Della Scala, who grew their own food to live off the land in perpetuity. But they also made wine, which is how their legacy keeps living on today. Almost two centuries later, in 1958, Massimo Bonomo rented two rooms and the adjacent fields. His family opened a Frasca, a typical Venetian bulk wine shop. They made wine and grew peaches, strawberries, and wheat.
Then, on August 8, 1988, the big turnaround: Massimo Bonomo’s sons, Eligio and Claudio, decided to turn their father’s business around. They converted all family lands into vineyards and established the Monte del Fra wine estate as their only financial foothold.
After years of growth and hard work, the family would soon add new DOC-classified territories: Valpolicella, Custoza, Lugana, Soave, and Bardolino. Today, the family owns 137 hectares/338 acres and works another rented 68/168.
Today, after over 60 years, the Bonomo family is still managing Monte del Frà: the second generation, with the brothers Eligio and Claudio, has been joined by the third with Marica,
Silvia, and Massimo. The years pass, and the generations change, but something will always stay the same: the utter commitment to the land. Today, Custoza, Bardolino, Chiaretto, and Frattino have been joined by new labels that have become a mere reference for Italian quality wine.
Monte del Frà proves itself as faithful to the land, taking care of the territory with loyalty and foresight and promoting sustainable projects as well as initiatives of restructuring and extension.
Sustainability
There are many ways to make wine – at Monte del Frà, we do it our way: with loyalty, caution, awareness, and knowledge. Sustainability at Monte del Frà (SQNPI-certified; Italian certificate for integrated farming) does not only include green manure, sexual confusion, micro-drip irrigation, and no chemical weeding; it is a common thread running through the fields to the cellar.
We believe in local workforces and local raw materials; we work with recycled paper, sustainable glass, and circular use of energy and water resources.
The extensive winery renovation and expansion project, which will be completed in 2025, aims to achieve maximum production sustainability. We are constantly looking for ways to boost efficiency through the technological innovation of winemaking processes. Based on a sustainable and ethical philosophy, we can allow the land to express itself.
The deep knowledge of each vine’s characteristics within the owned 137 ha (338 acres) and rented 68 ha (168 acres) on the classified Veronese denominations (Valpolicella, Custoza, Lugana, Soave, Bardolino) allows us to let the terroir and its characteristics define themselves and spread their utmost genuine and authentic expressions.
The Wines We Will Feature at the International Festival Tasting Room
Custoza Ca del Magro – A lightly off-dry white wine, with a variety of fruit aromas and flavours; stone fruits, pineapple, citrus, plus a touch of floral. Medium-plus acidity. Medium-plus length. (mywinepal.com 2023)
Chiaretto di Bardolino – Translucent, pale pink. Elegant with floral, fruity, herbaceous aromas such as white flowers, berries, red currant, nectarine, apricot, lychee, melon, gentle touch of white pepper. Dry, medium acidity, low tannin, medium body. Delicate flavours influence the aromas, resulting in a long finish.
Bardolino – A light-bodied wine with red fruit, plum, and floral aromas and flavours. Light, fine-grained tannins and a smooth, round mouthfeel. Medium length. (mywinepal.com 2023)
Amarone Classico Superiore – Deep garnet red. Intense with fine tannins, fruity, spices aromas, vanilla, cloves, chocolate, and coffee. Aromas of leather, tobacco, prune dried berries a total umami experience. Medium acidity, with fine tannins and full body. The flavours remain true to the nose. Long finish. Drink now and has a beautiful potential of aging for 20+ years. Outstanding.
Ripasso Classico Superiore – Deep ruby red. Intense and vibrant with fine tannins, floral, fruity, spices aromas such as violet, cherry, black pepper and cinnamon, licorice, vanilla and tobacco. Full-body and pleasantly harmonious in the mouth. The flavours remain true to the nose. Long finish. Drink now and has a beautiful potential of aging for 10+ years.
