Located in the picturesque region of Refrontolo, on the rolling hills between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, lies the renowned winery of De Stefani. Established in 1866 by Valeriano De Stefani, the first generation, the family's passion for viticulture and winemaking has been passed down through four generations. Today, the estate has become a UNESCO World Heritage site, a testament to the quality and excellence of De Stefani wines.
Valeriano De Stefani was joined by his son, also named Valeriano, in the second generation. Together, they focused on producing wines from dried grapes, planting specialized vineyards in the best locations and favoring native varieties such as Marzemino and Prosecco.
In 1958, Tiziano De Stefani, the third generation, graduated from the Oenological and Viticulture School of Conegliano and took over the management of the family business. Under his leadership, the estate expanded to include vineyards in the Piave area, carefully selected for their ability to produce white and red wines with a unique character. The first vineyards were planted in 1963, and vinification began in Fossalta di Piave.
To ensure the highest quality of wines, the De Stefani family installed a temperature control system for fermentation and aging in 1969, followed by the introduction of small barrels in 1972. A revolutionary move at the time, in 1984, the estate planted 4,200 vines per hectare, resulting in an incredibly low yield of grapes per plant.
In 1985, De Stefani produced their first Tombola di Pin Millesime traditional method sparkling wine, made from grapes grown in a single vineyard in Refrontolo. The process of drying grapes was also improved in 1987 with the creation of a specific room for temperature, humidity, and ventilation control.
The fourth generation, represented by Alessandro De Stefani, joined his father Tiziano in managing the estate in 1992. With a degree in Oenology and Viticulture from Conegliano and a degree in Business Studies from the University of Venice and Warwick (England), Alessandro continued the family's legacy of producing exceptional wines.
In 1993, a new vinification cellar was built in Fossalta di Piave, and in 1996, De Stefani began creating a distribution network for their wines, now present in over 40 countries worldwide. In 2001, the family restored an agricultural building in Refrontolo, creating a small winery and panoramic tasting room.
The De Stefani family takes great pride in their ancient traditions, reflected in the Stèfen 1624, a Marzemino vineyard planted in 1985 on the Refrontolo hills, a practice that dates back to the late 1800s. In 2007, the estate planted a Raboso Piave vineyard for the production of Malanotte and adopted a natural philosophy in the vineyard and cellar, avoiding the use of herbicides, chemical fertilizers, and added preservatives and sulphites.
As their vineyards continue to thrive, the estate expanded in 2009, thickening the vines planted between 1985 and 1986 to 8,400 plants per hectare. In 2013, the cellar in Fossalta di Piave was enlarged to include modern cellars for aging in barrique and bottle, drying grapes, and providing a tasting and show room. De Stefani wines truly embody the essence of traditional Italian winemaking, a legacy that has been passed down for over a century.
