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The vineyard at Castello di Solomeo
Learn something about Brunello Cucinelli and “dignity” is a phrase that comes up repeatedly, woven into the very cloth of the empire he has constructed. As the style icon releases the second classic of Castello di Solomeo, we discover the philosophy behind the mission.
Transitioning from the world of high quality cashmere to viticulture may not appear an apparent transfer – and but, for Brunello Cucinelli, wine is one other enviornment to which he can carry new “dignity”.
Cucinelli is a person of humble origins, born in a small Umbrian village in 1953. His household had been share-croppers however moved to town searching for higher employment, together with his father taking a job at a cement manufacturing facility. Cucinelli noticed his father wrestle to make a residing, and accomplish that with little respect from these round him – a battle which has outlined his work and philosophy.
Regardless of coaching as a constructing surveyor, then finding out engineering, Cucinelli ended up working as a showroom mannequin for Ellesse in his early 20s whereas his girlfriend (and future spouse) ran a small boutique. Impressed by this window into the style world and the brightly colored garments of Benetton, he determined to make a line of equally vivid cashmere jumpers. He begged, borrowed and stole to make it occur – launching in 1978, aged 25. Since then, the enterprise has advanced – with muted, impartial tones changing the full of life colors that gave him his break. His garments are outlined by their understatement, the epitome of “quiet luxurious”.
The “cashmere king”, Brunello Cucinelli
In the present day, the Brunello Cucinelli enterprise is price €6.3 billion. There may be extra to Brunello Cucinelli than high quality style, nevertheless, with 20% of the income channelled again into Cucinelli’s charitable basis. He operates below a philosophy he defines as “humanistic capitalism”, wanting to supply his staff the respect his father didn’t obtain and reclaim the worth of crafts which may as soon as have been deemed “blue collar”.
An enormous a part of that is his work in Solomeo, the village that he calls house (and the place his spouse, Federica, was born). The couple moved there in 1982, making it the corporate’s headquarters in 1985. Since then, Cucinelli has invested considerably within the tiny, hilltop hamlet, step by step restoring it, and including his personal cultural prospers – a Faculty of Arts & Crafts, Discussion board of the Arts, Aurelian Neohumanistic Academy, theatre, amphitheatre, library and extra. During the last 30 years, he has – working with architect Massimo de Vico – remodeled the village.
Castello di Solomeo, the vineyard and winery, is the most recent addition – however one which has been over a decade within the making. Michele Baiocco – who has been main the mission’s workforce since 2010 – met Cucinelli enjoying soccer. He’d been making wine in Perugia, and the 2 males met for dinner. Cucinelli requested him if he’d assist him “give the agriculture world a brand new dignity”, they usually determined to create a Bordeaux-inspired wine. Collectively they discovered the fitting website for a winery in Solomeo, and planted the primary vines in 2011.
The 2018 classic was the primary business launch from the mission
Cucinelli had all the time liked Bordeaux, however with Montalcino not too far-off, and a want to make one thing “typical” for the area, Sangiovese was an apparent addition. In depth research had been undertaken to create a winery with the fitting soils and exposition. However – check out an image of the winery, with its softly curving rows of vines that circulate throughout the property – and it’s clear that this isn’t a normal winery.
“The winery is sort of a portray,” says celebrity winemaking guide Riccardo Cotarella, who has been working with the workforce, particularly on the mixing course of, for the reason that 2018 classic (the primary business launch). It’s “an artist’s method to plant vines”, he explains – one which doesn’t make it any simpler to work. Cucinelli’s inspiration, nevertheless, was a renaissance backyard, and the truth that it forces every thing to be performed by hand is essential to the mission, emphasising the craftsmanship of creating wine, in addition to making a fantastic place for the workforce to work.
The philosophy within the winery is pushed by “motive and good sense”, with no chemical pesticides or fertilizer, utilizing grass cowl and canopy crops. It’s a posh website – with 5 hectares, unfold throughout 4 totally different soil sorts (extra clay wealthy, extra marl, sandier and extra calcareous) and divided between 4 varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Sangiovese).
The artistically styled winery at Castello di Solomeo, impressed by a Renaissance backyard
Every of the 12 totally different blocks is vinified individually, one thing which they really feel is essential to terroir expression. They solely make one wine from the positioning, and – as Cotarella says – “Working with Brunello [Cucinelli] all the time means the very best quality.” Cautious winery work is essential, and the workforce has been decreasing the manufacturing per plant, to focus the vines, encouraging complexity and focus. Similar to Cucinelli’s garments, this can be a wine supposed to final.
Whereas Cotarella consults, Pietro Grelloni is the full-time winemaker devoted to Castello di Solomeo, working alongside Baiocco. Grelloni was born regionally and labored with Baiocco, however had travelled the world making wine earlier than returning to Perugia, when Baiocco requested if he’d like to hitch the Cucinelli mission in 2017, simply in time for the classic. It’s clearly a particular mission to be concerned in, however – for Grelloni – it’s the long-term view that units it aside. “We take care concerning the 12 months, however we additionally must handle the longer term,” he says – explaining how it’s not simply concerning the classic that will probably be harvested this 12 months, however in 100 years’ time. As Cotarella says, “It’s a really particular wine, with a really particular philosophy.”
Castello di Solomeo is completely out there from FINE+RARE. The second classic, 2019, is ready to be launched this week.
– Written by Sophie Thorpe
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