Casa del Diavolo

Casa del Diavolo is a small, family-run winery in Liguria, Italy, located in Castiglione Chiavarese in the Val Petronio. The project is driven by Federica Sala and was founded by her brother Valerio Sala. It is rooted in the revival of old vineyards, local grape varieties, and a deeply personal connection to the land.

Origins & Vision

Valerio Sala, originally from Brianza, studied aerospace engineering before making a life-changing move: in 2010 he acquired a farmhouse and about seven hectares of land in Castiglione Chiavarese from an elderly farmer. The property came with vineyards and olive groves. The first encounter was visceral: the terrain, the open skies, the rushing Petronio stream, and the old vines awakened a dream.

Valerio set out to learn — viticulture, agronomy, enology — seeking mentors and local knowledge, especially from older contadini. He aimed to restore vineyards and produce wine with authenticity and attention to every step.

After Valerio’s premature death, his sister Federica picked up the torch, continuing the project. She embraced the work in the vineyard and winery, sustaining the vision, loves, and memories embodied in the land.

Vineyard, Grapes & Winemaking Practices

  • The estate works mainly with Bianchetta Genovese, Ciliegiolo, and Dolcetto as grape varieties.

  • Vinification is typically in purezza: wines are made without blending, using single-variety expressions.

  • Practices are artisanal, low-intervention: careful attention in vineyard, maceration, fermentation; for example, maceration of Bianchetta, limited yields, and bottling by hand.

Wines & Style

Some of the labels include:

  • Ciana – Bianchetta Genovese, DOC Golfo del Tigullio & Portofino

  • X-18 – experimental Bianchetta, made in the style of older methods

  • Nuaggi – Ciliegiolo

  • Muntà – Dolcetto DOC Golfo del Tigullio & Portofino

The wines tend to express the local terroir strongly: soils are lean; the exposure, the sea influence, the breeze, and Ligurian hill climate all contribute. The styles are honest, fresh, aromatic, with varietal character, and a strong sense of place.

Scale & Values

  • Production is small, about 5,000 bottles per year, which allows careful attention to detail.

  • Casa del Diavolo aims to remain artisan: for them, scale is less important than craft, authenticity, and preserving the memory and identity of the land.

 

Contact Details:

  • Email: societacasadeldiavolo@gmail.com

  • Phone/WhatsApp: +39 328 476 0159

  • Facebook: Azienda Vitivinicola Casa del Diavolo

  • Instagram: Azienda Vitivinicola Casa del Diavolo