- BY ISSIMO
- October 23, 2024
Since the late 80s, Noemia and Paolo d’Amico have pursued their passion for winemaking on their estate in Castiglione in Teverina (Viterbo), overlooking Umbria’s Calanchi Valley. Coming from a background in psychology and then fashion after that, Noemia made a complete life change when she decided to devote herself to the land, starting a new career as a wine producer with Paolo.
The award-winning winery and cellar is also home to Villa Tirrena Estate, a private home-turned-guest house filled with treasures from Noemia and Paolos’ private art collection. One of Umbria’s most sublime locations to host a wedding or a special event, Villa Tirrena Estate reflects Noemia’s philosophy about creating immersive and unforgettable experiences through the intersection of wine, art and culture.
Read on to discover more of her exclusive insights for ISSIMO!
Can you tell us how you started your career in winemaking, and why it’s so much more than a ‘job’ for you?
Paolo and I started on this journey in 1985 after a wonderful trip we had in Burgundy, France. This was truly inspiring for us to explore all the incredible wineries in this region, and it confirmed our aspirations to do something with wine in Italy, focusing on French grape varieties.
At the time Paolo was working in shipping, carrying on the fourth-generation in his family’s business and I was working at Dior. I also have a Diploma in Psychology, which is the field I was working in before I joined Dior. So let’s say we came from very diverse professional backgrounds before entering the wine industry together!
When my second child with Paolo was born in 1988, I decided to concentrate on something outside the fashion industry – my other passion, wine. I officially ‘started’ in 1990 when I moved permanently to Castiglione in Teverina and dedicated myself to the country and the projects across the winery.
Can you explain more about the area where the winery is located in Umbria, and what makes this such an incredible place to live and work?
We are located in such a superb area in the countryside of Umbria, overlooking the Calanchi Valley. Castiglione in Teverina is a pristine natural experience. There are canyons right in front of our vineyards, and soon these will become UNESCO-protected so that the land can’t be developed further. It’s a place that has such a positive impact on me.
Villa Tirrena itself overlooks Civita di Bagnoregio, and you can imagine how amazing its view is. This Etruscan territory dates back thousands of years, and it’s where we started our first vineyards. When we started in the late 80s, everyone asked us: ‘Why didn’t you go to Tuscany?’ The answer is because firstly we fell in love with every aspect of this amazing location, and secondly, we wanted to do something that was ‘against the current’ and not follow most who go to Tuscany for winemaking. It’s also just an hour away from Rome and one hour from Florence. We are at a perfect spot just in the middle.
And what about Villa Tirrena Estate itself?
Villa Tirrena is a beautiful 16th-century property where our family lived for many years. We now rent it for weddings, and special events and also for visitors who want to stay a few nights, enjoy the vineyards, and explore this beautiful area. It has seven double rooms filled with art, design and special artefacts personally curated by Paolo and myself. Quality over quantity is our motto with Villa Tirrena!
The underground cellar is one of our guest’s favourite places. It’s so relaxing and romantic, filled with candles, books, and lots of wine, of course! Guests love to dress up for a magical dinner down there. The Villa also has a pool, a spa, and a garden filled with contemporary sculptures from artists including Anish Kapoor and Mitoraj, which Paolo and I have been collecting for years. There’s even a ‘secret garden’ we created to honour our close friend, UK travel writer and identity Mark Shand. This garden is filled with animal sculptures from his Elephant Family Association. So Villa Trienna brings together art, culture and wine in a very immersive way.
“I treasure every day I get to be out in nature working on the vineyards, away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities.”
What aspect of daily life at the winery do you find most rewarding?
Being on the land and working on the property. I am immersed in so many beautiful natural environments. I treasure every day I get to be out in nature working on the vineyards, away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities.
What makes a ‘perfect’ wine in your opinion?
Everything is done by hand at our vineyards, and we won’t believe in using chemicals or artificial methods to change the character of the grapes. When locals arrive with baskets of grapes, nothing needs to be done to them. We are a completely biological winery, and we try to simplify the winemaking process to let ‘nature’ take its evolution. I think you can really taste this in our ‘Atlante’ 100% Cabernet Franc red, which is a very full-bodied wine with a long, rich finish.
What is your favourite memory or story associated with winemaking or life on the winery?
There are many! Those early years when we first started will always be special because we won several awards for our wines which gave us so much encouragement to keep realising our vision for the winery.
I also have to say that every time guests visit the underground cellars, we create a special ambience with candles, a fireplace burning and the sound of Maria Callas’ best arias. I always notice their expression when they enter – priceless! These are also the best moments for me because I realise we can create very emotional experiences that guests never forget.
All images courtesy of: Paolo and Noemia d’Amico
