Montericco property, near Imola, extends over 180 hectares, including 22 hectares of specialized vineyards. Ancient family documents report that the Sangiovese grapes in Montericco and the traditional white Trebbiano and Albana of Romagna have been well known since 1750.
The old tradition of grapes as well as the excellent production of wines were carried on in 1850, when Giuseppe Pasolini dall’Onda, advised by the prime minister Conte Camillo Benso di Cavour, invited to Montericco the French wine expert Louis Oudart, well known for his success with Barolo wine in Piedmont. Louis Oudart advised him where to grow Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sangiovese, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Nero and Merlot vines at Montericco.
Recently Chardonnay was introduced at Montericco.
In the 17th century an ancient middle age building was transformed in a large Tower in order to protect the Santerno Valley. At the end of the 18th century the windows where refined with decorations.
The landscape at Montericco is unique. Woods grow all around the 15th century palace. Nearby you can see the lovely formal gardens of boxwood and the labyrinth; the gardens feature a collection of different kinds of lavender: Lavandula Angustifolia, Lavandula Officinalis, Lavandula Vera, Lavandula Spica, ranging in colour from grey blue to intense violet and forming a sweet scented framing element. During the fall the lawns are richly coloured with crocuses and cyclamins. With no separation from the gardens grow the vineyards and you admire the geometrical fields, and in the distance, the Apennines.
The Italian style gardens where designed by Alessandro della Nave who also painted the palace gallery. The gardens in front of the orangerie where created at the beginning of the 19th century.
At Montericco, though the town is expanding below, the estate is still totally unspoiled.
This is because the landscape and the agricultural park have been preserved by the Pasolini dall’Onda family, founders of Dimore Storiche Italiane (an Association of owners of historical Italian mansions) and of Italia Nostra, (an Association for the preservation of the Italian Heritage).
