D'Amico Wines: Pursuit of the Undiscovered

Take a drive just beyond Rome, through the northern end of Lazio

Peel west off the A1, far from the madding crowds of Tuscany and Umbria.

A sharp turn left, gravel clicks a slower pace.

The narrow, winding lane etched into the Tuscia hillside ascends Vaiano, lush farmland neatly unfurled in green and gold.

Verdant bluffs give way to a dramatic limestone canvas, sheared away by time to reveal broad strokes of matted clay, glinting peperino and coppery tufo streaks rendered by an eons-old volcanic artist that created this masterpiece: The Calanchi.

It is here among the Calanchi’s deep mineral cliffs and calciferous valleys where the Paolo and Noemia d’Amico combine worldly sophistication with world-class wine.  

Worldly Sophistication, World Class Wine

Paolo and Noemia d’Amico embody a relaxed refinement, love of family and a deep passion for superior wine and fine art. Paolo, an avid collector and third generation shipping magnate, honed his palette and viniculture knowledge within the walls of his family’s seaside cellars.

Paolo’s exceptional taste in beauty is most evident in his wife Noemia, herself a skilled sommelier and former House of Dior executive. She, too, grew up with a love for wine among the Portuguese vineyards of her Brazilian winemaking grandparents.

It is at Villa Tirrena, the d’Amico’s 16th century estate and winery where their eclectic worlds meet. Behind private gates atop one of Vaiano’s highest peaks, rustic grounds burst with English hydrangeas, heady herbs and runaway wildflowers. The understated farmhouse gives way to a terraced, 280* viewing gallery for the sunset’s light show across the Calanchi.

In the manicured sculpture garden, Thayat, Rainaldi and Banksy peek through French hedgerows, where a local retriever and his terrier companion serve as trusted guides. Guesthouses along estate’s eastern rim are frequently filled with the warmth and laughter of their four grown children.

Old World, New Breed

A graceful blend of old world tradition and new breed techniques meet inside the d’Amico estate’s Etruscan cellars.

Richly patterned rugs and candelabras light a seductive path along the tufo-walled barrel room, where Italian opera sings to the French oaked wines-in-waiting.

Noemia’s polished aesthetic extends to the plush tasting room, anchored by a roaring fireplace and framed with carefully-curated mementos, cherished novels and intimate family photos.

The ancient cellar elegantly flows into a modern winery, which was added at the estate’s founding in 1985 and designed by renowned architect Luca Brasini.

Winemaker Guillaume Gelly oversees both growth and production of the 90-hectare estate, with 21 hectares planted primarily across the Calanchi and into the gentle, rolling hills of Umbria and Southern Tuscany.

Planted at 400 to 600 meters in elevation, d’Amico vineyards enjoy a gentle Mediterranean climate, mineral-rich soil and excellent drainage from the Calanchi’s volcanic floor.

French-born Gelly utilizes his expertise with Bordeaux and Alsatian varietals in harmony with cutting-edge biodynamic growing practices and new world craftsmanship to create d’Amico’s award-winning wines.