Dirupi

Dirupi is the project of Davide Fasolini and Pierpaolo Di Franco, who, since 2004 have worked tirelessly, farming their high-altitude vineyards in the sub-alpine region of Valtellina, Lombardia, which is known for lighter-bodied expressions of Nebbiolo, known locally as Chiavannesca. Translating to cliffs or crags, the Dirupi winery is named for the steepness of their 4.5 hectares of vineyards. These terraced vineyards are supported by rock walls erected over a thousand years ago, pieces of which routinely fall and need to be rebuilt by hand, which Fasolini and Di Franco consider one of the privileges of working these old sites. The partners started learning about winemaking in Valtellina, where they grew up and where harvest is a community activity. They became fascinated by farming and harvest, gaining conviction about how ripeness is essential to a great wine. “If the wine is green at harvest, it will taste green forever.” Perfect ripening at these extreme altitudes requires careful planting, pruning, and growing. This respect for the vines and land is further evidenced by the organic practices that Fasolini and Di Franco insist on using whenever possible. The Dirupi winery is located in a building in the center of the town of Ponte di Valtellina, which dates back to the sixteenth century.