Falesco
Summary
Famiglia Cotarella, formerly Falesco, is a 170-hectare family estate spanning Umbria and Lazio that produces both international varieties like Merlot (Montiano) and indigenous grapes across volcanic and clay-loam soils at 250-450 meters elevation. Their gravity-flow winery combines technical precision with traditional respect, establishing standards that have elevated central Italian winemaking while the founding brothers' expertise continues to influence the region through both production excellence and educational initiatives.
Heritage & Leadership
Falesco was established in 1979 by brothers Riccardo and Renzo Cotarella in Montecchio, a small town in southwestern Umbria near the border with Lazio. The winery, now officially known as Famiglia Cotarella, represents one of central Italy's significant wine production stories of the late 20th century. The Cotarella brothers brought complementary expertise to their venture: Riccardo, a trained enologist who has consulted for numerous Italian wineries, and Renzo, who focused on vineyard management and viticulture.
In 2015, the winery transitioned to its current name, Famiglia Cotarella, marking the entry of the third generation into the family business. Dominga, Marta, and Enrica Cotarella—daughters of the founding brothers—now manage various aspects of the operation while maintaining the winery's original vision. Dominga oversees marketing and communications, Marta manages hospitality and events, and Enrica directs administrative operations. The founding brothers remain involved in strategic decisions and winemaking direction.
Vineyards & Wines
Famiglia Cotarella manages approximately 170 hectares of vineyards spread across Umbria and neighboring Lazio. Their primary estate vineyards surround Montecchio in southwestern Umbria, with additional holdings near Lake Bolsena in northern Lazio. The vineyards benefit from volcanic soils rich in minerals and tufaceous elements, particularly in the Lazio properties, while the Umbrian sites feature clay-loam compositions with good drainage.
The winery produces several distinctive lines, including single-varietal expressions and thoughtful blends. Montiano, a 100% Merlot from their Lazio vineyards, demonstrates their skill with international varieties. Marciliano combines Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from Umbrian vineyards. Their Vitiano line offers accessible red, white, and rosé options, while the historic Est! Est!! Est!!! represents their commitment to the indigenous Trebbiano and Malvasia varieties grown near Montefiascone. More recently, they've focused on native varieties like Aleatico for dessert wines and Roscetto for white wines.
The vineyards range in elevation from 250 to 450 meters above sea level, with varying exposures selected to match each grape variety's requirements. Vine density averages 5,000 plants per hectare, with training systems primarily using spurred cordon and Guyot methods.
Philosophy & Practice
The Cotarella family's winemaking philosophy balances respect for indigenous varieties with openness to international grapes that perform well in their terroir. Their technical approach emphasizes temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel for white wines, while reds typically undergo malolactic fermentation and aging in French oak barrels.
For their premium red wines, the winery employs careful hand-harvesting, often with multiple passes through the vineyards to ensure optimal ripeness. Aging protocols vary by wine: Montiano matures for 12 months in new French oak barriques followed by 6 months in bottle before release, while Marciliano sees 18 months in French oak with a portion of new barrels.
The family has invested in modern winemaking facilities while maintaining traditional practices where beneficial. Their gravity-flow winery design minimizes mechanical intervention during the winemaking process. In the vineyards, they practice integrated pest management to reduce chemical interventions and have implemented water conservation measures including drip irrigation systems.
The Cotarellas have also established an educational foundation, Fondazione Famiglia Cotarella, which provides training programs for young people interested in viticulture and enology, reflecting their commitment to the future of Italian winemaking and their local community.