Il Conventino is a farm located near Pesaro and Urbino, in the Marche: a hilly terroir nestled between the Adriatic Sea and the Apennines. In this protected valley, the estate cultivates – rigorously in organic farming – olive trees and indigenous grape varieties of rare beauty, which contribute to the richness of the region.
The Marcantoni family has been running the business for three generations. Over time, they have managed to develop different production ranges, balancing experimentation, enhancement of natural heritage, and innovation open to international tastes.
Here, the whites are in the spotlight: Bianchello del Metauro, a historic grape variety known since Roman times; Famoso, recently rediscovered and which offers excellent results in sparkling wine production; and Incrocio Manzoni 54, whose unique aromatic profile makes it extremely versatile. The estate also produces great reds, such as the essential Sangiovese and a small confidential production of Lacrima di Morro dedicated to straw wine (passito).
As a guarantee of authenticity, the wines are certified organic and carry the FIVI label (Independent Winemakers). Furthermore, for its olive oil production, the estate is a member of the FIOI (Italian Federation of Independent Olive Growers), which attests to the remarkable quality of its extra virgin olive oil.
Why I chose this estate
For the great finesse of its wines and its incredible know-how in enhancing a heritage of fascinating and confidential indigenous grape varieties. To this is added the excellence of their olive oil: pure, clear and endowed with well-defined and recognisable taste profiles.
The story at the heart of the bottle
I discovered this estate more than ten years ago, during my training in the world of wine. I do not remember the exact moment, but at that time, I was going from one fair to another, attending events and meeting enthusiasts in a continuous whirlwind; I was trying to absorb everything possible, at full speed, to make up for lost time.
I do, however, remember very well the Merano Wine Festival where, thanks to someone who was dear to me at the time, I met Mattia, the young owner of the estate. He made me taste an endless succession of whites, all more interesting than the last. I, who by habit preferred full-bodied reds, experienced a moment of pure discovery: I was so captivated by their Incrocio Bruni that I chose it as the representative wine for my second-level tasting exam. During the defence of my thesis, the president of the jury greatly appreciated this choice; I passed the exam with flying colours, thus formalising a passion for rare and little-known grape varieties that I still cultivate today.
Over the years, I have become increasingly attached to the estate, following its evolution step by step. When I moved to Venice, it was the very first reality I thought of to launch a training and tasting activity. I also remember the day when, while I was working in a local restaurant, French customers enthusiastically spoke to me about it: this estate had been an unforgettable stop on their journey in Italy and they had loved its wines.
The idea of integrating Il Conventino into my selection of producers has never left me, even though, for reasons beyond my control, I had to set it aside for a while. Today, this dream is finally coming true. I would like my clients to marvel at the variety and finesse of their wines – not to mention the excellence of their olive oil – just as I did during our first meeting, reliving those same emotions at every tasting.
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