The Romans had a clear understanding. For them, wine was not merely a beverage: it was nourishment, ritual, and a symbol of civilisation. In a culture where everything was celebrated—from military triumphs to a leisurely meal—it is unsurprising that expressions emerged to extol its role in daily life. Among them, the renowned “vita vinum est,” a simple phrase that signifies joy, vitality, and celebration.
This very spirit resonates in the story of Valentino and Silvia, a couple who decided to take the phrase literally. So much so that they adopted it as the motto for their winery: “El vino es vida”. In their case, it is not merely a slogan but a literal description of a radical choice. In 2016, they exchanged their lives for the vineyard, leaving everything behind to devote themselves to cultivating grapes in the mountains and building their own winemaking venture.
Their adventure began with four hectares of chardonnay and pinot noir, planted in 2007 by Valentino's father to diversify the family business. That idea—half intuition, half future bet—eventually became the starting point of a life project that today boasts six hectares and some very intriguing productions.
From this work emerges Cenci Trento Brut, an elegant and precise sparkling wine, true to the philosophy of Trentodoc and the identity of Trentino-Alto Adigio. The grapes—exclusively chardonnay—grow at 400 metres above sea level, in limestone soils that impart tension and finesse. The harvest is done by hand, unhurriedly and in sync with the rhythm of perfect ripening. Nothing is left to chance: the selection of bunches, gentle pressing, fermentation in steel at controlled temperatures, and even malolactic fermentation are executed with an almost artisanal care. But where the magic truly begins is during the secondary fermentation in the bottle, the heart of the Traditional Method. There, the wine rests for 30 months on its lees, refining, gaining creaminess, and developing those characteristic aromas of toasted bread, ripe apple, and delicate minerality.
In this way, what the Romans once said—vita vinum est—is confirmed every day by Valentino and Silvia with creations like this Cenci Trento Brut, a sparkling wine that celebrates the freshness of the mountains and the joy of living.