The Tower & the Vineyard
Antica Torre del Roccolo is a tiny, extraordinary estate in Montebelluna, in the province of Treviso, Veneto — a place where viticultural history lives in every vine. The holding is remarkably small: about two-thirds of a hectare of very old vines, interplanted in a traditional "mixed vineyard" style under trees, a living museum of pre-industrial viticulture that has all but disappeared from the modern landscape. For decades, these vines were left to grow wild, their fruit sold to the local cooperative, their extraordinary diversity unrecognized and uncelebrated. Then Raimondo Zolin and his family took on the task of restoring this ancient vineyard, working diligently to identify and preserve the more than 20 autochthonous grape varieties that grow there — varieties that represent the viticultural heritage of the Veneto, many of them unknown outside this single parcel. The vineyard is farmed organically, the wines are made with indigenous yeasts and minimal sulfites, and the resulting field blends — Bianco del Roccolo, Rosso del Roccolo, and Bregantio — are unlike anything else in Italian wine: savory, waxy, yellow-fruited, earthy yet ethereal, meticulously assembled from the mixed harvest of vines that have shared the same soil for nearly a century. These are wines of memory, of patience, and of profound connection to a place where time moves slowly and the past is always present.
Wild Vines & Patient Hands
The story of Antica Torre del Roccolo is the story of a rescue — of a vineyard, a tradition, and a viticultural heritage that nearly vanished into the anonymity of cooperative production. It begins in Montebelluna, in the province of Treviso, Veneto — a town better known for its sports shoe industry than for wine, yet home to one of the most remarkable vineyard sites in northern Italy. The estate takes its name from the ancient tower — the torre del roccolo — that stands sentinel over the vineyard, a roccolo being a traditional hunting blind used to capture birds with nets, a structure that speaks to the rural, pre-industrial character of this landscape. For decades, the vineyard beneath the tower was left to grow wild, its fruit harvested without distinction and sold to the local cooperative, where the extraordinary diversity of varieties was blended away into anonymous bulk wine. The vines grew old, their trunks thickening, their canopies spreading, their identities slowly fading into the collective anonymity of the mixed planting.
Then Raimondo Zolin and his family took on the task of restoration. They approached the vineyard not as farmers looking to maximize yield but as archaeologists of viticulture, carefully studying each vine, identifying its variety, and understanding its place in the mixed ecosystem. Over time, they have identified more than 20 autochthonous grape varieties growing in this single, tiny parcel — a biodiversity that is almost unheard of in modern viticulture, where monoculture is the norm and mixed plantings have been systematically uprooted in favor of homogeneity. The varieties include white grapes such as Çimixa (also known as Bianchetta), Garganega, Trebbiano, and others; and red grapes including Negrara, Cabernet Savardo (an ancient variety distinct from the more familiar Cabernet), Tyrolese (Tirolese), Marzemino, and others. Some of these varieties are so rare that they exist in only a handful of vineyards across Italy; others are entirely unknown outside this single site. The Zolin family's work is not merely viticultural but archival — a living preservation of genetic material that would otherwise be lost forever.
The vineyard itself is a window into the past: about two-thirds of a hectare of vines interplanted in the traditional "mixed vineyard" style, where multiple varieties grow side by side in the same rows, harvested together, fermented together, and bottled as field blends that capture the totality of the site's character rather than the expression of a single variety. The vines are planted under trees — an ancient practice that provides shade, biodiversity, and a complex microclimate, but that is entirely incompatible with modern mechanized farming. The trees and vines have grown together for nearly a century, their roots intertwining, their canopies creating a layered ecosystem that supports insects, birds, and the microbial life that makes natural winemaking possible. This is not a vineyard designed for efficiency; it is a vineyard designed for resilience, for diversity, and for the kind of complexity that only time and mixed cultivation can produce.
Today, Antica Torre del Roccolo stands as one of the most unique and precious wine projects in Italy — a testament to the power of patience, curiosity, and respect for the past. The estate is recognized by The Grape Reset, Rosenthal Wine Merchant, RWM Selections, Natural Wine Co, Élevage, Cellar d'Or, Some Good Wine, Eataly Vino, and a growing network of natural wine enthusiasts who understand that what the Zolin family is preserving is not merely a vineyard but a piece of living history. Their wines — Bianco del Roccolo, Rosso del Roccolo, and Bregantio — are not merely beverages; they are time capsules, each bottle containing the genetic memory of 20+ varieties, the patience of 90-year-old vines, and the devotion of a family who chose to see value where others saw only inconvenience. The estate's motto might well be: from wildness, wisdom; from patience, profundity; from the mixed vineyard, a mirror of the world.
"Working diligently to restore their 90-year-old vines, they have identified more than 20 autochthonous grape varieties under their care, from which they now craft a trio of field blends."
— Rosenthal Wine Merchant, on Antica Torre del Roccolo
Montebelluna & the Mixed Vineyard
Antica Torre del Roccolo's vineyard is located in Montebelluna, in the province of Treviso, Veneto — a landscape of rolling hills, agricultural plains, and pre-alpine foothills that sits at the intersection of the Veneto's wine-growing heartland and the more mountainous terrain of the province's northern reaches. The holding is remarkably small: about two-thirds of a hectare — roughly 0.6 hectares — of very old vines, interplanted in a traditional "mixed vineyard" style that was once common across rural Italy but that has now all but disappeared. The vines are planted under trees, creating a multi-layered agroforestry system that provides shade, supports biodiversity, and creates a microclimate of extraordinary complexity. This is not merely viticulture; it is a form of agriculture that predates modern monoculture, a system designed for resilience rather than efficiency, for complexity rather than simplicity, and for the long term rather than the immediate harvest.
The terroir is defined by its modest scale, its mixed cultivation, and its continental climate with alpine influence. The soils of the Montebelluna area are typically alluvial and colluvial deposits — a mix of sand, silt, clay, and limestone fragments washed down from the pre-alpine foothills over millennia. These are well-draining, mineral-rich soils that stress the old vines sufficiently to produce concentration and complexity, while providing enough fertility to sustain the mixed ecosystem of vines and trees. The continental climate brings hot summers, cold winters, and significant diurnal temperature variation, which preserves acidity in the grapes and contributes to the wines' freshness and ageing potential. The presence of the trees moderates temperature extremes, reduces water stress, and creates a habitat for beneficial insects and birds that contribute to the vineyard's ecological balance. The result is a terroir of remarkable individuality — a tiny pocket of biodiversity that produces wines unlike anything else in the region.
Farming at Antica Torre del Roccolo follows organic principles, with a philosophy that emphasizes preservation, patience, and minimal intervention. The vineyard has been farmed without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers — not as a commercial certification strategy, but as the only logical approach for a vineyard where the primary goal is to preserve the health and genetic integrity of 90-year-old vines. The mixed planting itself provides natural pest resistance: the diversity of varieties means that no single pest or disease can devastate the entire vineyard, and the presence of trees and ground cover encourages a balanced ecosystem that reduces the need for intervention. The vineyard is worked entirely by hand — the trees and the mixed planting make mechanization impossible, and the Zolin family's intimate knowledge of each vine is essential for managing such a complex system. The harvest is manual and selective, with grapes from the mixed vineyard picked together and co-fermented to create the estate's signature field blends.
The grape varieties are the heart of Antica Torre del Roccolo's identity — more than 20 autochthonous varieties identified and preserved in this single, tiny parcel. The whites include Çimixa (also known as Bianchetta), a rare variety that contributes savory, waxy, yellow-fruited character; Garganega, the great white grape of Soave, which brings structure and almond notes; Trebbiano, the workhorse variety of central and northern Italy, providing acidity and neutrality; and other ancient varieties that have yet to be fully documented. The reds include Negrara, a historic variety of the Veneto known for its light color and fresh, fruity character; Cabernet Savardo, an ancient variety distinct from Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, which contributes structure and herbaceous complexity; Tyrolese (Tirolese), a variety with alpine origins that brings acidity and mountain freshness; Marzemino, the great red grape of Trentino and the Veneto foothills, known for its elegance, violet aromatics, and ability to produce wines of remarkable finesse; and other rare varieties that exist almost nowhere else. Together, these varieties form a genetic library — a living archive of Veneto viticultural history that the Zolin family is painstakingly preserving and celebrating through their field-blend wines.
Province of Treviso, Veneto. Rolling hills, agricultural plains, pre-alpine foothills. Intersection of Veneto wine heartland and mountainous northern terrain. Remarkably small holding: ~0.6 hectares. Continental climate with alpine influence: hot summers, cold winters, significant diurnal variation. Alluvial and colluvial soils: sand, silt, clay, limestone fragments from pre-alpine foothills. Historic agricultural landscape with mixed cultivation traditions. Town better known for sports shoe industry than wine — hidden viticultural treasure.
Traditional "mixed vineyard" style — multiple varieties interplanted in same rows. Vines planted under trees — multi-layered agroforestry system. Shade, biodiversity, complex microclimate. Incompatible with modern mechanization. Roots intertwined, canopies layered over decades. Natural pest resistance through genetic diversity. Trees moderate temperature, reduce water stress, support beneficial insects and birds. Pre-industrial agriculture designed for resilience and complexity. Living museum of viticultural history.
Organic farming principles. No synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers. Goal: preserve health and genetic integrity of 90-year-old vines. Mixed planting provides natural pest resistance — no single pest can devastate entire vineyard. Trees and ground cover encourage balanced ecosystem. Entirely manual labor — trees and mixed planting make mechanization impossible. Intimate knowledge of each vine essential for managing complex system. Manual, selective harvest. Patience and observation as core principles.
Whites — Çimixa/Bianchetta (rare, savory, waxy, yellow-fruited), Garganega (structure, almond notes), Trebbiano (acidity, neutrality), and other ancient undocumented varieties. Reds — Negrara (light color, fresh fruity), Cabernet Savardo (ancient variety, structure, herbaceous complexity), Tyrolese/Tirolese (alpine origins, acidity, mountain freshness), Marzemino (elegance, violet aromatics, finesse), and other rare varieties existing almost nowhere else. Genetic library — living archive of Veneto viticultural history. Field blends capture totality of site character.
Field Blends & Indigenous Yeasts
At Antica Torre del Roccolo, the cellar philosophy is one of extreme minimalism and profound respect for the vineyard's voice: the wines are field blends, meaning that all the varieties from the mixed vineyard are harvested together, co-fermented together, and bottled together — a practice that captures the totality of the site's character rather than the expression of any single grape. The Zolin family does not separate the varieties; they do not vinify them individually and blend them later. Instead, they trust that 90 years of co-existence in the same soil has created a harmony that human intervention cannot improve. The fermentation is spontaneous, driven by indigenous yeasts that live on the grape skins and in the vineyard environment — a microbial ecosystem that has developed over decades of organic farming and mixed cultivation. Sulfur dioxide is used in minimal quantities, just enough to protect the wine from oxidation and spoilage without compromising its living character. The result is a trio of wines — Bianco del Roccolo, Rosso del Roccolo, and Bregantio — that are unlike anything else in Italian wine: complex, layered, impossible to replicate, and profoundly connected to their specific place and history.
The techniques are minimal, observant, and deeply informed by the estate's preservation philosophy. Fermentation occurs spontaneously with indigenous yeasts — no commercial yeasts, no enzymes, no additives. The field-blend grapes are harvested together at optimal maturity, crushed, and allowed to ferment naturally. For the white wines, the pressing is gentle, and the juice is allowed to settle before fermentation, preserving clarity and finesse while allowing the natural yeasts to do their work. For the red wines, the fermentation includes a period of skin contact that extracts color, tannin, and the complex aromatic compounds that develop from the interaction of multiple varieties. Temperature control is minimal or absent — the Zolin family allows the fermentation to proceed at its own pace, trusting the cool autumn temperatures of Montebelluna and the thermal inertia of the cellar to provide gentle, steady conditions. Ageing is brief, in neutral vessels that do not impose oak flavors or oxidative character — the goal is to preserve the freshness, the savory complexity, and the waxy, yellow-fruited character that defines these wines. Everything is in service of the vineyard's voice: the Bianco del Roccolo is savory, waxy, yellow-fruited, and well-structured; the Rosso del Roccolo is earthy yet ethereal, with pretty flowers and plum; the Bregantio carries its own distinctive character from the same mixed vineyard.
"Bianco del Roccolo" — The White Field Blend: The Bianco del Roccolo is Antica Torre del Roccolo's white field blend — a savory, waxy, yellow-fruited, well-structured wine meticulously assembled from a mix of old-vine grapes from the heart of the domaine. It is, in the words of those who have tasted it, the wine that "wooed" them — a wine of unexpected complexity and profound satisfaction that captures the essence of the mixed vineyard's white varieties. The blend includes Çimixa (Bianchetta), Garganega, Trebbiano, and other ancient white varieties that have grown together for 90 years, their roots intertwined, their flavors harmonized by decades of shared soil. Fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, with minimal sulfur, and aged in neutral vessels to preserve freshness and clarity. In the glass, it is golden-straw with luminous intensity. The nose offers yellow apple, quince, waxed lemon, almond, and a distinct savory, mineral note that speaks of the old vines and the mixed cultivation. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with waxy texture, vibrant acidity, and a long, savory, complex finish that evolves with each sip. It is a wine of patience and profundity — a white that rewards contemplation as much as pleasure. Serve well chilled at 8–10°C. Ages beautifully for 3–7 years, developing more honey, dried fruit, and mineral complexity. ~€24–€32 / ~$26–$35.
"Rosso del Roccolo" — The Red Field Blend: The Rosso del Roccolo is Antica Torre del Roccolo's red field blend — a wine that is earthy yet ethereal, showing notes of pretty flowers and plum, a testament to the magic that happens when 20+ varieties co-ferment after 90 years of shared existence. It is a field blend of all the known red varieties at the estate: Negrara, Cabernet Savardo, Tyrolese, Marzemino, and others — each contributing its own color, aroma, tannin, and acid to a wine that is greater than the sum of its parts. The co-fermentation is the key: the varieties are not blended after fermentation but fermented together, allowing their juices to interact during the crucial early stages when yeast metabolism creates complex aromatic compounds that cannot be replicated by post-fermentation blending. Fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, with a period of skin contact that extracts the gentle tannins and deep color of the old vines, and aged in neutral vessels to preserve freshness and fruit. In the glass, it is ruby with garnet reflections. The nose offers violet, plum, wild cherry, dried herbs, and a distinct earthy, mineral note. The palate is medium-bodied, with fine, integrated tannins, vibrant acidity, and a long, savory, floral finish that seems to hover between earth and air — hence "earthy yet ethereal." It is a wine of paradox and poetry — a light-bodied red of surprising depth and complexity. Serve at 14–16°C. Ages well for 3–7 years. ~€24–€32 / ~$26–$35.
"Bregantio" — The Third Expression: The Bregantio is Antica Torre del Roccolo's third field blend — another expression of the mixed vineyard's extraordinary diversity, crafted with the same meticulous care and minimal intervention as the Bianco and Rosso. While less documented in the available sources, the Bregantio represents the Zolin family's continued exploration of what this unique vineyard can produce — perhaps a wine from a specific section of the mixed planting, or a different harvest timing, or a slightly different approach to fermentation and ageing that reveals another facet of the 20+ varieties' collective character. Like its siblings, it is a field blend of old-vine grapes from the heart of the domaine, fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, with minimal sulfur, and aged in neutral vessels. In the glass, it likely offers another window into the savory, waxy, earthy, ethereal character of the mixed vineyard — a wine that rewards curiosity and comparison with the Bianco and Rosso. It is a testament to the Zolin family's ongoing work of discovery: even after years of study, the mixed vineyard continues to reveal new secrets, new combinations, new expressions. Serve at 10–14°C depending on cuvée. Ageing potential varies. ~€22–€30 / ~$24–$32.
Vessels & Ageing: Antica Torre del Roccolo works with neutral vessels — stainless steel tanks, concrete, or old wood — that do not impose flavors or oxidative character on the wines. The goal is absolute transparency: the vessel should be a window, not a frame, allowing the character of the mixed vineyard to shine through without the influence of new oak or other flavoring materials. The ageing period is brief to moderate — these are wines that are released when they are ready to drink, but that also possess the structure and acidity to develop beautifully in bottle. The cool, stable temperatures of the Montebelluna cellar provide natural conditions for slow, elegant maturation. All wines are bottled with minimal filtration, minimal sulfites, and the living yeasts that continue to evolve in the bottle, ensuring that every glass is a fresh, authentic expression of the mixed vineyard and the patient, honest work of the Zolin family. The result is a trio of wines that are unmistakably Antica Torre del Roccolo — savory, waxy, earthy, ethereal, deeply connected to the 90-year-old vines under the trees, and to the family's conviction that the best wines come from preserving the past rather than reinventing it.
"Bianco del Roccolo" — "Çimixa, Garganega, Trebbiano & 20+ Autochthonous White Varieties — Hand-Harvested Together from 90-Year-Old Mixed Vines Under Trees in Montebelluna, Spontaneous Indigenous Yeast Co-Fermentation, Minimal Sulfites, Aged in Neutral Vessels — The Savory, Waxy, Yellow-Fruited White That Wooed the Natural Wine World"
The Bianco del Roccolo is Antica Torre del Roccolo's foundational, most celebrated, and most profoundly unique wine — the white field blend that encapsulates everything the Zolin family believes about preservation, patience, and the magic of the mixed vineyard. It is not merely a white wine; it is a testament to the beauty of 90-year-old vines when cultivated with organic care, the courage of a family who chose to restore rather than replant, and the enduring magic of wines that honor the past without trying to improve upon it. The name evokes the ancient tower — the torre del roccolo — that stands sentinel over the vineyard, a reminder that this is a place where time moves slowly and the past is always present.
The viticulture is organic — no synthetic pesticides, no herbicides, no chemical fertilizers. The Zolin family focuses on maintaining the health and genetic integrity of the 90-year-old mixed vineyard — a tiny parcel of about two-thirds of a hectare where more than 20 autochthonous varieties grow together under trees, their roots intertwined, their canopies layered, their flavors harmonized by decades of shared soil. The whites include Çimixa (Bianchetta), a rare variety that contributes savory, waxy, yellow-fruited character; Garganega, the great white grape of Soave, bringing structure and almond notes; Trebbiano, providing acidity and neutrality; and other ancient varieties that have yet to be fully documented. The harvest is entirely manual, with all the white varieties picked together at optimal maturity and co-fermented to create a wine that captures the totality of the site's character.
In the cellar, the grapes are gently pressed and allowed to settle before spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts — no commercial yeasts, no enzymes, no additives. The co-fermentation is the heart of the Bianco del Roccolo's character: the juices of 20+ varieties interact during the crucial early stages of fermentation, creating complex aromatic compounds that cannot be replicated by post-fermentation blending. Minimal temperature control allows the fermentation to proceed naturally. Ageing in neutral vessels — stainless steel, concrete, or old wood — preserves freshness and clarity without imposing oak flavors. Minimal sulfites are added to protect against oxidation. No filtration, or only the gentlest filtration, preserves the wine's living character and natural texture. The result is a wine that is alive, authentic, deeply connected to the place from which it comes, and to the family's philosophical conviction that the best wines come from preserving the past.
In the glass, it is golden-straw with luminous intensity — vibrant, alive, profound. The nose is intense and complex: yellow apple, quince, waxed lemon, almond, and a distinct savory, mineral note that speaks of the old vines, the mixed cultivation, and the alluvial-colluvial soils of Montebelluna. There are notes of wild herbs, a hint of honey, and a subtle waxiness that adds depth and intrigue. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with waxy texture, vibrant acidity, and a long, savory, complex finish that evolves with each sip. It is a wine of great personality — a wine that proves that when 20+ varieties are grown organically under trees for 90 years, harvested together with patience, and made with honest minimal intervention in neutral vessels, the result is a white of both immediacy and profound depth, of both pleasure and genuine uniqueness.
The Bianco del Roccolo is a wine of the table and the mind — it pairs beautifully with aged cheeses, roasted vegetables, seafood pasta, or simply with good bread and olive oil in the shadow of the ancient tower. Serve well chilled at 8–10°C. It will reward careful cellaring, developing more honey, dried fruit, quince, and mineral complexity over 3–7 years. Every bottle is a rare treasure — a testament to the power of preservation, the beauty of organic farming, and the enduring magic of wines that honor the land, the vine, and the patient, honest work of a family who saw value where others saw only wildness. ~€24–€32 / ~$26–$35.
The Antica Torre del Roccolo Range
Raimondo Zolin and his family produce a tiny, precious portfolio of field-blend wines from about two-thirds of a hectare of 90-year-old mixed vines in Montebelluna, Veneto. All wines are made from grapes harvested together from the interplanted vineyard — 20+ autochthonous varieties growing side by side under trees — and co-fermented with spontaneous indigenous yeasts. No commercial yeasts, no enzymes, no additives. Minimal sulfites. No fining or filtration, or only the gentlest filtration. Ageing in neutral vessels to preserve the pure expression of the mixed vineyard. The portfolio includes a white field blend, a red field blend, and a third expression — all meticulously assembled from the mixed harvest of vines that have shared the same soil for nearly a century. These are wines of memory, patience, and profound connection to a place where time moves slowly. Prices are approximate and in USD/EUR.
Antica Torre del Roccolo produces a tiny, precious portfolio of field-blend wines from about two-thirds of a hectare of 90-year-old mixed vines in Montebelluna, province of Treviso, Veneto. All wines are made from grapes harvested together from the interplanted vineyard — 20+ autochthonous varieties growing side by side under trees in the traditional "mixed vineyard" style — and co-fermented with spontaneous indigenous yeasts. No commercial yeasts, no enzymes, no additives. Minimal sulfites. No fining or filtration, or only the gentlest filtration. Ageing in neutral vessels (stainless steel, concrete, old wood) to preserve the pure expression of the mixed vineyard. The portfolio includes Bianco del Roccolo (white field blend of Çimixa, Garganega, Trebbiano, and other ancient whites), Rosso del Roccolo (red field blend of Negrara, Cabernet Savardo, Tyrolese, Marzemino, and other ancient reds), and Bregantio (third expression of the mixed vineyard). The estate was founded by Raimondo Zolin and his family, who took on the task of restoring a vineyard that had been left to grow wild for decades, its fruit sold to the local cooperative. They have identified more than 20 autochthonous grape varieties in this single parcel — a biodiversity almost unheard of in modern viticulture. The vineyard is farmed organically, worked entirely by hand, and harvested selectively. Distributed by The Grape Reset, Rosenthal Wine Merchant, RWM Selections, Natural Wine Co, Élevage, Cellar d'Or, Some Good Wine, Eataly Vino, and select natural wine retailers worldwide.
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Rosenthal Wine Merchant – Antica Torre del Roccolo (growers & portfolio)
RWM Selections – Antica Torre del Roccolo “Rosso del Roccolo” 2020
The Cellar d’Or – Antica Torre del Roccolo “Bianco del Roccolo” 2020
Rosenthal – “Bianco del Roccolo”, Veneto Bianco
Vivino – Vigna Antica Torre del Roccolo (winery & merchant offers)
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