In the lush, green heart of Umbria, in Molino Vitelli, Umbertide (PG), lies “I Girasoli di Sant’Andrea,” a winery that celebrates the harmony between man and nature. It produces not only organic extra virgin olive oil but also excellent wines. The company’s philosophy is based on a profound respect for the land, for human labor, and for the adoption of non-invasive winemaking practices; it is, in fact, a completely organic winery.
The roots of “I Girasoli di Sant’Andrea” date back to 1994, when the founders, a Venetian family, chose Umbria as a “happy oasis” to raise their children Andrea and Pilar, the young owners, and learn the values of the land. They started from scratch, purchasing vineyards and building the winery. In 1997, the property expanded to 38 hectares of vineyards and 14 hectares of olive groves. The company’s first harvest took place in 2000. Despite the initial difficulties in the Umbrian wine industry, the passion has always remained strong.
The young owners, siblings Andrea and Pilar, in love with this place, decided to take over the reins of the company. Pilar, with a degree in language mediation, handles the commercial side of things, while her brother Andrea, with an agricultural background, dedicates himself to farm management. This synergy, as well as passion, are the secrets of the family business.
In 2019, Andrea and Pilar launched their innovative winemaking project: they dedicated six hectares of vineyards to creating something different, new, that aims not to be a mere legacy, but an evolution of the solid foundations laid by their parents. While keeping the company’s history alive through the historic wines with which their “founding” parents began, they have introduced new and fresh ideas, bottling a new vision of wine. A new design characterizes the new product, a new line of labels, distinguished by a geometric design that recreates the inside of a sunflower, the company’s symbol, with the initial “C” at the center of the spiral.
The winery, committed to non-invasive winemaking practices, uses steel, concrete, and wood aging methods. The concrete barrels, in particular, were donated by local farmers in 2019 and allow for a natural, constant temperature, allowing the wine to experience micro-oxygenation and a distinctive opening. They produce natural wines, without added sulfites and with spontaneous fermentations, although climate change has led us to implement air conditioning systems for temperature control, necessary to maintain quality in the bottle.
“I Girasoli di Sant’Andrea” is also a welcoming place, especially for foreign visitors, thanks to our ability to speak several languages, including German, English, and French. The old office, adjacent to the mill, will soon be transformed into a reception area for visitors who love olive oil. Here, they offer bruschetta with extra virgin olive oil and platters of cured meats and cheeses sourced exclusively from local Umbrian producers, such as Torre Brado cured meats and Palazzo Rosa cheeses. They organize “themed food” events in collaboration with the restaurant next door, creating, for example, focaccias or desserts with the new olive oil, initiatives that will begin this year.
New projects are brewing: it will be a high-quality hospitality venue that will breathe new life into the ancient farmhouses adjacent to the farm.
Contatti:
SR del Niccone, Loc. Molino Vitelli, Umbertide (Pg)
Tel: +39 075 941 0837
