Meet the producer: Tre Monti

Filippo Manaresi
Sep 4
3 min read

This is the chronicle of an exciting day dedicated to the study of Albana, a white grape variety grown only on 700 hectares in part of the Romagna wine region.

In the company of sommelier friends preparing to participate in the Albana Masters, we visited the Tre Monti winery, in the hills of Imola, in the easternmost part of the province of Bologna, far from the Colli Bolognesi DOC.

Here we were welcomed by the Navacchia brothers, David and Vittorio, heirs to the company founded by their parents Sergio and Thea.

A short history, spanning just two generations, but full, intense, and vibrant.

In the early 1970s, producing quality in Romagna was stuff for crazy visionaries, as in the early 2000s, experimenting with non-native varieties and natural, chemical-reduced winemaking techniques wasn't yet trendy, now, after almost 50 years, the challenge is won.

Rightly so, before tasting the products from their winery, the brothers took us to visit the vineyard that produces what in recent years has become their signature wine, Vitalba, because good wines can only be produced starting from healthy, ripen, high-quality grapes.

The estate comprises two farms, one on the hills of Imola (26 Ha), the other on those of Forlì (27 Ha), all planted with vineyards. Zoning the estate's land has revealed a wide range of compositions, even within the same plot, necessitating further subdivision into micro-zones. In-depth knowledge of the soils has allowed the planting of varieties best suited to each specific condition. The results are evident in the richness of quality and diversity of the grapes obtained.

Vittorio and his brother David guided us through an emotional and heart-touching tasting of their wine range from Albana grapes, during which the memory of their parents was continuously recalled:

Anablà frizzante 2024: 100% Albana. A second fermentation in the bottle for the first ancestral sparkling wine produced by Tre Monti, yet tied to the deeply rooted regional tradition of sparkling wine.
E.VER 2024 Albana di Romagna DOCG: 100% Albana. The brothers are proud of their famous macerated wines, but they haven't forgotten about white winemaking.
Thus, E.VER (Vertical Evolution) was born, the fresh interpretation of Albana, a summer alternative, sharper and, indeed, vertical. A further demonstration of the incredible versatility of the Albana grape.
Vigna Rocca 2024 Albana di Romagna DOCG: 100% Albana. The most "Romagna" grape, a true and unique expression of the terroir, in its dry version, is born through skin contact maceration in concrete tanks, just like it used to be made in the past. A red wine in a white dress, with incredible pairing versatility.
Vitalba Albana di Romagna DOCG: 100% Albana. Being among the pioneers of winemaking in Georgian amphorae (kvevri) in Romagna was a truly inspiring privilege for the company. Amphorae are a splendid tool: they have proven to be an incredible accelerator and concentrator of the maturation of Albana wine, without compromising even a hint of its varietal profile, so, in 2013, Vitalba was born: a successful gamble, now the company's flagship white wine.
Vinification: In 470-litre Georgian amphorae (kvevri), spontaneous fermentation with ambient yeasts without temperature control.
Maceration: 70 to 120 days (depending on the vintage)