A hundred years of love for
the land don’t just make
the vines grow.
Ca’ Rugate is an agricultural business which produces wines of the territory with distinctive and identifiable character that can evoke the land that they derive from, the Soave Classico, Valpolicella and Lessini Durello
Their history goes back over a hundred years, inseparably bound up with that of the Tessari family for four generations and with that dark, volcanic soil of the Rugate hill, near the centre of Brognoligo, where it all began.
A Heritage Etched in Valpolicella’s Soil
Already at the beginning of the 20th century, Amedeo Tessari (Pictured sitting), known as “Mideo”, had foreseen the suitability in the quality of his land and had started to provide his wine for the family Hostelry. From father to son, from hectare to hectare, the history of Ca’Rugate progressed to the present day.
Over the years the vineyards grew and his son, Fulvio “Beo” Tessari (Pictured carrying baby), having just purchased the vineyards in the Monte Fiorentine district, decided to crush the grapes and make a wine. He bought new concrete vats and big barrels; thus the first winery was born at the Rugate around 1950. The first bottles labelled Ca’ Rugate date from 1986 and Ca’ Rugate wines immediately began to appear on markets outside Italy.
2001 is the year of the fourth generation of Tessari: Michele (Pictured with child in hand) entered the business. Having trained as an oenologist, he launched a process of company reorganisation both at a strategic level and in management.
Today Ca’ Rugate is a thriving activity rooted in its land but with an international flair, with 90 hectares of their own vineyards and a production which both respects the traditions and takes up the innovations, the fruit of a daily work routine conducted conscientiously and with meticulous precision, to ensure continuity and quality without compromise.
Respect for the Land
Ca’ Rugate has become a Didactic Farm (also known as an educational farm or learning farm, offering activities for visitors, primarily children and young people)
Certified by the Veneto Region and the educational series already launched is continuing on biodiversity and sustainability. This new horizon explores and explains the environmental and cultural roots of a unique territory.
A permanent display in the winery also shows the agricultural and winegrowing activity of the Tessari family. Recognised as a Museum of Regional interest by Veneto Region.
A Reputation for Excellence
Since 2013 Ca’ Rugate has been part of the Independent Winegrowers of Soave, an association belonging to the F.I.V.I. (Italian Federation of Independent Winegrowers), motivated by the urge to protect the typical character of Soave wine by placing emphasis on authenticity. An operation of transparency was introduced, showing the origin and traceable production of the wine, and its respect for environmental and sustainability values. Each member thus becomes an interpreter, witness and conservationist of the Soave territory and its wines.
