Tenuta Castello di Morcote is a 150-hectare certified organic and biodynamic farmhouse and winery. The setting is a promontory surrounded by Lake Lugano, covered with terraced vineyards, olive trees, pastures, and a large woodland. In the heart of the estate, in a dominant position, stands the 15th century Castello di Morcote. A magnetic place, nestled between the Pre-Alps and the Po Valley, which benefits from an exceptional terroir for viticulture thanks to the pink porphyry and quartzite soil of volcanic origins. Its vineyards are located between 400 and 500 m above sea level on steep slopes facing south and characterized by a singular climate regulated by thermal lake winds.
A family-run firm now in its fourth generation, which with great passion carries on the business inherited from grandfather Massimo Gianini who, almost a hundred years ago, understood the value of this unique territory in Ticino. After grouping together more than 500 parcels of land, he built two large farms and farmhouses, created miles of roads, and rebuilt the historic vineyard. He reclaimed a part of the forest creating the Alpe Vicania and, finally, completed the restoration of the ruins of the castle. Over the last ten years, to renew its commitment to the territory that hosts it, Castello di Morcote has undertaken a challenging but satisfying path towards sustainable agriculture.
The varieties grown in the vineyards surrounding the castle are Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, while further south in the Mendrisiotto area, where the soil is more calcareous, are the vineyards of Ligornetto, Tremona and Morbio Superiore from which Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot come, as well as most of the white grapes, such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The organic vocation of Castello di Morcote is reflected in the purely manual viticulture techniques and in the reduced treatment of the grapes which aim to preserve their authenticity and ability to express the peculiarities of the territory where they grow. The estate currently produces ten labels of clean and fragrant wines and two types of grappa.
In recent years, a restoration project has also been carried out to renovate the old stone farmhouses of the estate, respecting their shapes and materials, to create authentic places where guests can live engaging experiences linked to the world of organic viticulture. There are two types of tastings, which take place upon reservation from Wednesday to Saturday: Terroir Tasting - six wines that represent the peculiarities of the Morcote and Mendrisiotto terroirs - and Premium Tasting - six wines that include the prestigious Castello di Morcote Riserva and Fuoco, the result of the selection of the best merlots and the best Morcote parcels.
Those who wish to immerse themselves 360° in the extraordinary winemaking tradition of Castello di Morcote can take part in a "Wine & Dine", a food and wine experience in the cellar preceded by an aperitif around the Feuerring - the ring of fire which symbolizes the place’s link with the soil of volcanic origin -, whose menu is inspired by the principles of biodynamics and follows Maria Thun's Sowing Calendar, or in a "Dinner in the Vineyard", a suggestive evening immersed in the rows of the vineyard and preceded by a toasting at sunset between the historic walls of the Castle. In both cases all courses, strictly seasonal and based on local ingredients, are accompanied by labels from Castello di Morcote’s cellar to get a taste of the flavors and aromas of this enchanting place.