Luigi Maravalle bought the Montiano lands, today known as Vitalonga, during the 1950's in order to produce quality red wine and oil for family use.
The Estate was characterized by Montepulciano and Sangiovese red grape vines which were grown between supports of maple, olive and holm oak trees.
During the 1970's, Luigi's son Fabio and wife Gigliola wholeheartedly took on the estate's modernization. In the renovation of the vineyards, they were guided by the advice of their young friends Riccardo and Renzo Cotarella.
Right from the start, the harvests were characterized by their high quality grapes, in particular that of the red varieties.
While waiting to develop their own wine cellars, Gigliola and Fabio were among the founding members of the Monrubbio Winery.
During the 1990's, their sons Gian Luigi and Pier Francesco, supported by the parent's enthusiasm and experience, and that of the wine expert Riccardo Cotarella, decided to renew the family's agricultural traditions and the result is estate as it can be seen today.
Reason and passion orient the choices made for the vineyard and for the wine cellars, but they are always finalized to create high quality wines that are the authentic expression of a land so superbly suited to the growing of exceptional grapes, and to reflect the rural traditions of our Umbrian heritage.
Vitalonga today is not only a company but a philosophy of life. A life " well spent", a healthy life-style, close to nature, and quality products - wine, oil, distillates- that reflect the extraordinary nature that surrounds us, and our passion for our work - this is what Vitalonga is, and this is what it offers.
The Vitalonga Estate is located in the gently rolling hills of upper Orvieto, just a few kilometres from Umbria's west border with Tuscany.
It is situated on a hill with its vineyards and olive groves surrounded by holm oak woods. Panoramic views extend from the nearby castle of Sala, all the way to Orvieto and continue in enchanting vistas over the wide valleys to the Cimino mountains, Mount Cetona and Mount Amiata.
It is easy to reach the Vitalonga Estate both by train and by car.
By train: get off at the station of Orvieto Scalo; from here it is about a 15 minute taxi ride to Ficulle and to the Vitalonga Estate.
By car: take the A1 highway and exit at Fabro or Orvieto.
Coming from the North exit at Fabro and take the state road SS71 for 9 Km; just after passing through Ficulle, you will reach the estate. Coming from the South, exit at Orvieto, take the SS71 for about 12km and you will reach the Vitalonga Estate before reaching the outskirts of Ficulle.
The vineyards, which are well exposed to the sun, are situated at an altitude of 250 to 380 metres above sea level, and thrive in a chalky-clay, Pliocene fossil-rich land of sedimentary origin.
From the end of the 1990's, both national (Montepulciano and Sangiovese) and international (Merlot and Cabernet) red grapevines were selected and planted with a vine density of 5,400 vines per hectare. All the vineyards are equipped with an emergency irrigation system.
The Italian Montepulciano and Sangiovese vines were chosen because, up to the 1950's, they were traditionally grown between small maples that acted as supports for the vines.