Villa De Buris is an historic
building in Valpolicella, linked to the deepest cultural
roots of the area and its winemaking vocation. Although is
not open to the public, is now part of the Tommasi
domains and the wine that ages in its cellar
can be sampled at Tommasi wine shop in Pedemonte.
Incorporated in the
structure of the villa appears to be the remains of a Roman
age watchtower, built in a strategic position
on a hill from which it could control traffic on the Via
Claudia Augusta. The Via Claudia Augusta was
one of the most important Roman roads in Northern Italy,
it connected the Brenner Pass, and beyond the Danube area,
with Ostiglia in the Po river Valley, crossing in Verona
with the Via Postumia, the other road
axis that went from east to west. Not long ago, during
some excavations, archaeologists have identified a portion
of Via Claudia Augusta near San Pietro Incariano,
one of the five municipalities of Valpolicella, which is
in fact right in front of Villa De Buris.
Valpolicella became an
important area of Roman settlements from the first century
BC, at that time the area was already famous for the wine
produced with dried grapes, just as
today is done for Amarone and Recioto,
of which the Latin writers Pliny, Cato and Cassiodoro told
about.
The
Monastery
As often happens with the
remains of Roman buildings, the ruins of the old
watchtower were also recycled in the construction of a monastery
that was built in its place. Thanks to the presence of
these ancient religious settlements, the knowledge and
culture of the past, as well as viticulture
and olive growing, survived the decline
of the early Middle Ages and the devastation of the
barbarian invasions. Wherever there was a church, in fact,
there was a need for wine and olive oil for mass and
sacraments. Almost certainly around the monastery there
was a vineyard and an olive grove.
The noble family villa
From the 15th century the
monastery was transformed into a noble family villa,
integrating parts of the old structure, including the old
church. Decorative elements such as the arches of the
ground floor porch and the mullioned windows of the facade
already show an elegant Renaissance taste,
although other elements remain of Venetian Gothic. Traces
of frescoes from various periods have
been brought to light in several places both inside and
outside. Among these are the depictions of the six petals
rosette, also known as the Sun of the Alps,
a particular geometric figure that dates back to the
Gallic-Celtic tradition of Valpolicella and that is also
found in the churches of San Giorgio di Valpolicella and
San Floriano. The Sun of the Alps depicted the undying
sun that reborns after the winter solstice and
was resumed by the Christians who used it to symbolically
represent the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The
Winery
Until a few years ago, the
villa was inhabited by a retired doctor and his wife who
ran the cellar and a pleasant and rustic tasting room
where they welcomed visitors with their warm hospitality.
The large barrels for aging were placed in the structure
of the ancient church of the monastery, which due to the
movements of the ground is now located almost three meters
below the street level.
Tommasi
Villa De Buris has recently
been purchased by the Tommasi, one of the largest and most
prestigious wineries in Valpolicella. The villa has become
the fulcrum of the new wine that takes
its name from the villa: De Buris. It is an Amarone made
from the grapes of the Groletta vineyard,
located on the hill of La Grola, one of
the areas best suited for the cultivation of traditional
vines of Valpolicella: Corvina, Corvinone,
Rondinella, to which is added a small
percentage of Oseleta, an ancient and
almost extinct vine varietal, recently returned in vogue
among producers for the structure and the particular aroma
that gives the wine. The Amarone thus produced is aged
for five years (three years longer than minimum
requirements) in large oak barrels kept
inside the cellar of Villa De Buris.
The villa is currently not open to the public although it
can be admired externally. The restoration work will soon
begin, which, given the age and historicity of the
structure are expected to be long and complex, but that
will certainly bring it back to its former glory for the
hospitality projects of the Tommasi cellars, already
engaged with various accommodation and catering facilities
in the Verona area.
Tastings
Amarone Villa De Buris, on the
other hand, can be tasted at the headquarters of the
Tommasi cellars in the new prestigious wine shop.
For further information and details on Veronissima wine
tours, that can include a visit to the external of Villa
De Buris and a stop at Tommasi cellar for a tasting, do
not hesitate to send us a request: