Origin 

1. Grandfather's Dream

My grandfather had a different job, but I had a dream: a large vineyard. And he saw the potential for his project in the Legnago area. So he purchased a plot of land and planted a small Merlot vineyard, which was trained on a pergola, to host festive Sunday lunches with family and friends, shaded by generous foliage.

5. From grapes to wine

In August 2015, strolling through the ancient Merlot vineyard, we realized that those wonderful grapes deserved to be fully exploited, transformed into great wines. It was probably our grandfather's spirit guiding us at that moment, and we sisters, strengthened by our experience as sommeliers, decided to give it a try.

 2.   The organic pond

To the north of the vineyard, Meneghini's (Maria Callas's first husband) brick factory used to extract clay from a large pit. After promising that it would be filled with filler material from the reconstruction of Legnago, her grandfather noticed groundwater bubbling up from the bottom. He decided to maintain the quarry, which soon transformed into a pond full of fish, turtles, and now migratory birds; a true oasis of biodiversity.

 6.  The first bottle: Charme Spumante di Merlot

What wine should we produce? That was the big question. Not being in an area renowned for its wine, with no family tradition or existing market, we needed to create a unique, unconventional wine that would represent us as an innovative and alternative winery. Research revealed that no one was producing a Merlot sparkling rosé, so we decided it would be our first wine: thus, "Charme" was born.

3.  The growth of the vineyard

Their father, an emergency room doctor, also developed a passion for working in the vineyard and helped his grandfather develop the farm, adding vineyards (Merlot and Pinot Grigio), fruit trees, and other crops, as was common in those years. The dream of a single large vineyard was difficult to realize, but over the years they became founding members and grape suppliers to a cooperative winery; in addition, of course, to producing wine for the family. A beautiful park facing the pond was also created, offering space, nature, and shade in the summer.

7.  The Annafrancesca cellar

After the success of our first wine, our customers encouraged us to continue, and so, one by one, by first studying the grapes and how to maximize their value, we introduced two more iconic wines: Libellula Merlot and Riccio Moscato secco, and the extremely rare passito wines: Battista (Merlot) and Sisters (Moscato). With extraordinary labels and organoleptic characteristics that set them apart from classics of the same type, we gained the attention of an ever-increasing number of markets, especially abroad. Thus, the path was clear, and we transformed Il Pioppo into the Annafrancesca winery.

4.  Anna and Francesca's choice

The two of us sisters had chosen careers far removed from viticulture, and we never dreamed of tying ourselves to our homeland. However, for different reasons, we quit our jobs and shortly after, we decided to dedicate ourselves to our grandfather's vineyard and turn his dream not only into a reality, but also into a real business.

Thus, in 2013, we founded the "Il Pioppo" winery and immediately set to work learning the trade: we attended pruning courses and obtained licenses for tractor driving and pest control. We also expanded the vineyard with another 36,000 Pinot Grigio and Moscato Giallo vines, and after a few years, the Piwi variety. We don't yet produce wine, but we sell the grapes to other wineries.

8.  The Covid period and the Wine Loft

When things started to get going and even Italian restaurants began to request our wines, Covid suddenly brought everything to a halt and threatened to undo all our progress. Undaunted, we quickly organized home delivery of our wines, thus developing a network of enthusiastic private customers with whom we organized outdoor tastings, opening the vineyard gates for the first time.

To accommodate the growing demand for visits, even in winter, and the increase in wine production, we renovated a disused building nearby and created the Wine Loft: a modern, multifunctional space where we organize our tasting events and sell our wine directly.

5. The biological and biodiversity oasis

Working in the vineyard, we quickly realized there was something we didn't like about conventional chemical treatments, which pollute the soil, kill insects, and remain on our skin and in our breath. We immediately sought out more natural, organic alternative treatments, to respect the environment and ourselves.

Thus, we became, albeit only unofficially, an organic company in 2013 without legal certification, and we immediately noticed the differences: the vineyard became a magnificent garden full of flowers and wildlife, such as hoopoes, which are only found in healthy environments.

10. The Limited Editions

Until 2022, no Pinot Grigio wines will be produced because they are considered uninteresting for our winemaking standards. But a special tasting and the expertise of a skilled winemaker changed our minds: thus was born the Limited Edition line, three wines produced in a very limited production of 1,800 bottles: Ancestrale Spumante di Pinot Grigio, Pinot Grigio ramato, and a special Merlot riserva.

Furthermore, to complete the Annafrancesca wine line, a Metodo Classico could not be missing, available from 2026, obviously with a new blend and for now... top secret!